Emma Mary (Weisser) Lamphear

Emma Lamphear left peacefully to join her heavenly family on Friday, September 8, 2023.   The moment she passed, the skies opened and tears of Heaven washed the Montana countryside.

She was born to August and Mary Weisser in Weston Township, Wausau, Wisconsin. 

One of eight children, she grew up on a family farm where she learned the traditional skills of living off the land.  She would do her daily chores; milking the cows, gathering eggs, tending the garden; then walk miles to and from school, and do more chores when she got home. She enjoyed participating in 4-H and earned a box full of ribbons and awards. She used this farm to table knowledge to raise a busy family of five children.

On the farm, her family spoke German but English everywhere else.  Our family favorite is Mom calling us to dinner in her German dialect, saying, “Come to dinner now or you get only the leftovers.”  Even the great grandchildren know this announcement.

She met her future husband, Dale, at a dance at the Colonial Ballroom in Wausau, following his return from WW II, and they waltzed and polkaed through 75 happy years of marriage. They were married in 1948 and moved out to northern Montana, along the Hi-Line for Dale’s job with the Great Northern railroad where they lived in a small trailer during the coldest Montana winter on record.

They settled in Plentywood for 17 years where they raised five kids; Dale (Victoria) Lamphear, Phoenix; Rod (Beth) Lamphear, Bozeman, Debra (Scott) Smith, Missoula; Lori (Eric) Anderson, Boise and Mike (Kim) Lamphear, Laurel.  The downsizing of the railroad precipitated the final move to Laurel in 1984.  The years saw the addition of  8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren and Emma always remembered each and every birthday.

 She loved her family, holidays and especially getting together with everyone at the cabin where she didn’t have to do any cooking.  She and Dale were together for 75 years after which she could be heard saying, “I’m Done Cooking!” 

Emma was active in VFW, Catholic women's guild, pinochle groups, gardening (always had flowers blooming around the yard) and was a wonderful baker.  She often had fresh, hot bread, cookies and rolls ready for us after school and you never, ever could eat just one. Her lemon pie will be especially missed.

Emma was unusually lucky and would often win raffles and sweepstakes.  She won everything from gift cards to appliances, the interest on a million dollars and even a new car.  Sadly, none of her luck rubbed off on the rest of the family.

Mom, we are forever grateful to you, for your love and all the years you were here with us.  Your kind and caring spirit toward everyone was inspiring and your calm and easy demeaner left no place for ever an angry moment.  You enriched our lives beyond measure, made a family and a loving home, a legacy we vow to somehow continue.

We love you and miss you and know that you are where you want to be. The aroma of fresh baked bread will let us know you are near.

Condolences for the family can be shared online at: Remingtonfuneralchapel.com

Memorial service will be on Monday, September 18th @ 11:00 at the National Veterans Cemetery in Laurel with small reception following.