Lieselotte 'Lilo' Dorothea Brander, 79

Lieselotte "Lilo" Dorothea Brander, 79, passed away Sunday, July 2, 2006, at Immanuel Lutheran Home.

She was born May 8, 1927, in Berlin, Germany.

She was an only child in a family that was trapped in World War II. Lilo came to the United States as the bride of a serviceman. She brought her own mother to the U.S. in the 1950s.

Lilo and her husband, Herbert Brander, married March 8, 1958. They lived with their seven children in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh.

In 1969, Herb moved his family to Kalispell, where the couple raised their children and Lilo lived out the rest of her life.

After the death of her husband in 1976, Lilo raised her five youngest children in their home on the Stillwater River. She was the kitchen manager at the Elks Club and at the Finish Line restaurant. She was dedicated to the family and was involved in all of their activities. She was a member of the German Club and Trinity Lutheran Church.

Lilo's interests include German music, cooking and entertaining. She is famous for her delicious sauerbraten. She was an avid knitter. Each birthday and Christmas, the family could expect to receive a new pair of booties, mittens or a blanket.

Once she was retired, she traveled to the homes of her children, going to Alaska, California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, Texas and even Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Nothing gave her more enjoyment than to be with family and friends. She will be missed and loved by all who knew her.

Lilo was preceded in death by her husband and parents. She is survived by seven children: Heidi Evans and husband, Mickey, of Lakeland, Fla., Delores Clay of Kalispell, Gwynn Bramer and husband, Rob, of Sterling, Ill., Karin Stark and husband, Wade, of Fairbanks, Alaska, Kevin Brander and wife, Leslie, of Temecula, Calif., Ralph Brander of Kalispell, and Roger Brander of Missoula; 16 grandchildren: Michael, Danielle, Anita, Jimmy, Niel, Brian, Grant, Drake, Kyla, Abbey, Josh, Kiel, Julia, Heather, Shelby Lee, and Jenna Jean; and five great-grandchildren.

Graveside services for Lilo will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 7, at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday at Johnson Mortuary Chapel.

The family suggests memorial gifts be given to Immanuel Lutheran Home at 185 Crestline Ave., Kalispell, 59901, or to Home Options Hospice at 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell, 59901.