Funeral services: Monday, February 28, 2011 at 2:00 pm at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Miles City.
Interment: Custer County Cemetery.
Lydia Katharina (Schlepp) Bankey Ristoff, age 78, of Miles City was finally healed and in her Fathers arms after seven long years of heart trouble and two bouts of cancer with her passing on February 23, 2011, at the Friendship Villa Care Center in Miles City.
Lydia was born April 28 1932, in the family home at Wason Flats, Montana, the daughter of John K. Schlepp and Mathilda (Naaz) Schlepp. Lydia attended grades 1 thru 8 at the Hafla- Pitzer Country School on the Two Furrow in the Wason Flats region north of Miles City. As a young woman she worked as a housekeeper in the hospital in Jordan, MT and at the Angela, MT store to help her family out. On April 20, 1952 she married Victor (Billie) Marcus Bankey. To this union four children were born, Vern, Karen, Nancy & Judy. She followed her husband around on various ranch jobs raising her children until 1964 when the family finally came to rest in Miles City. It was then that Lydia became a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod. Her great passion in life was instilling her faith in her children and all the little one's she so faithfully taught in Sunday school. Another milestone in Lydias life was the day she received her GED at Miles Community College in 1971. After Billie became stricken with cancer Lydia took on the task of cleaning the Social Security Office and The Miles Block. After Billies passing on May 19, 1981 Lydia began working for Friendship Villa Care Center, a job where her Christianity was able to shine helping others from 1981 to 1997. On August 23, 1984 Lydia married Jimmie Ristoff. In their retirement years, Jimmie and Lydia enjoyed attending family gatherings and bringing in the harvest they grew in their garden. Lydia also enjoyed a good book, crossword or picture puzzle and a good old-fashioned heated German debate as one may call it.
Her family and friends will dearly miss her but knowing her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has her in his healing arms makes her passing a more joyous occasion for all the one's left behind. Her first husband Victor Bankey, father John K. Schlepp, mother Mathilda Schlepp, and sisters Viola Schlepp and Violet Helm preceded Lydia in death. Many brother and sister-in-laws, two son-in-laws, aunts, uncles and cousins preceded her in death.
Lydia is survived by her second husband Jimmie Ristoff, brother John C. (Dee) Schlepp, sisters Lillian K. Brooks and Virginia M. Ness one son Vern (Wanda) Bankey, and three daughters: Judy Jameson (Mel Nordwell), Karen Omdahl, and Nancy (Tim) Gauthier), 9 grand kids and 9 great grandchildren. Also surviving are two brother-in-laws Louie Ristoff and Thurman Bankey and two sister-in-laws Betty Ristoff and Bernadine Bankey.
Viewing will take place at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home, in Miles City, on Sunday, February 27, 2011 from 1-5pm. A closed casket service will be held at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Miles City on Monday, February 28, 2011 at 2:00 pm with Reverend Howard Schreibeis officiating. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be made to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Should one desire, memorials may be made to: Relay for Life, in care of 1816 Riverside St. Miles City, MT 59301 or to the Trinity Lutheran Preschool, 221 S. Center Ave., Miles City, MT 59301.
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
Share
Add your thoughts and memories. Upon approval they will be added.