On July 31, 2023, Renate Lehmann went to heaven to be with her Lord and Savior.
Renate was born on July 8, 1937, to Albert and Lore Hofmann in a village of Biberach in Germany. The family later moved to the southern German city of Karlsruhe. She had a brother, Sandro, who was six years older.
She was six years old when World War II came to her city. Along with her mother and brother, she spent most of the war in a small village in Alsace-Lorraine in eastern France, which was occupied by Germany in 1940. The area was farmland, and she remembers helping the farmers pick grapes. She also recalls the day American troops liberated the village. The soldiers were very kind to the people, giving candy to the children. Her curiosity about the United States grew from that experience.
After the war ended, Renate attended a school for nannies and, after graduating, received a job in Switzerland taking care of two boys. But she had a strong desire to see the United States. Her parents and brother tried to talk her out of the idea, but finally agreed that if it would make her happy, they would not stand in her way.
She wrote to newspapers in several U.S. state capitals, asking if nanny positions were available and leaving her name and address. A young man a few years older answered her inquiry in the newspaper in Helena, Montana. She thought he was married and wanted to hire her as a nanny for his children. She soon learned that he was single.
The young man, Paul Lehmann, and Renate became pen pals and friends, and he subsequently sponsored her to come to the United States. She arrived in Helena on February 4, 1956, and Paul was waiting to meet her. The friendship quickly blossomed into love, and they were married in June 1956. They both wanted to start a family, and in May 1957 had their first child, Ann, then Deborah and Robert and finally Ronald in 1967. Renate always referred to him as the last one on the lily pad.
Renate loved staying home taking care of the house and children, and later, helping with grandchildren. She was a fabulous cook, and made both German and American meals. Hobbies included building toy boxes for the kids, playing guitar, reading, sewing, and especially crocheting and knitting, making hats and sweaters for the family. She enjoyed the companionship of many good friends over the years, and was always doing something thoughtful for people, whether friend or stranger.
The family had fun times throughout the years: hiking, camping, sledding, swimming, and sailing at Canyon Ferry Lake. Paul and Renate loved to square dance and enjoyed the German community in Helena. Renate returned to Germany with the three older children in 1965, and in 1982, Paul and Renate took the two boys on a five-day hut-to-hut hike in the Austrian Alps.
Renate is preceded in death by her parents and brother.
She is survived by her husband, Paul (married for 67 years); children Ann Seifert, Deborah Torres, Bob (Carmen) Lehmann, and Dr. Ron (Brynlyn) Lehmann; and grandchildren Hannah Seifert McCalla, Aja Torres and Max Torres, Greg Lehmann, Jennifer Lehmann, and Mike Lehmann, and Micah Lewis.
The Lehmann family wants to thank all the nurses and aides with the St. Peter’s Hospice program, especially our primary team, social worker Karissa Bennett, who found much-needed home help, and nurse Nicole Henley, who brought milkshakes on Renate’s birthday.
Services will be held on Wednesday, August 9, at 11 a.m. at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home at 3750 N. Montana Avenue, followed by a reception there. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery will follow the reception.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Lewis & Clark Humane Society. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Renate.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday August 9, 2023
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Wednesday August 9, 2023
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial
Following the reception
Wednesday August 9, 2023
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday August 9, 2023
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Wednesday August 9, 2023
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial
Following the reception
Wednesday August 9, 2023
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, Montana 59602
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diane T. willliams says
Rene was such a positive person, always great to meet.
A good friend to the Champions, I know they liked their musical evenings.
We were all lucky to have her here in Helena.
Diane and Budd Williams
Raymond Torres says
I (Raymond Torres) only have got to meet Paul and Renata once when I helped Danny Torres drive back to Seattle and we stopped overnight at their house. They were both so friendly, kind and cordial. It is always so hard to loose a loved one, so we offer our deepest condolences and prayers to Paul and family.
Raymond and Amelia (Amy) Torres and Family from Baytown, Texas
Lorrie Cole says
I live around the corner from Paul and Renate. I would visit with Renate on her walks with her sweet dog, Lily. I was drawn to Renate the first time I met her. She had such a lovely energy around her, and I always left her presence wanting more. I hadn’t seen Renate in a few years, but would hear about her through mutual friends. And I was the beneficiary of some of her delicious cookies now and then. My sincere condolences to the Lehmann family.
Ted Polette says
Ann my heart goes out to you and your family at the loss of your dear mother. May your wonderful memories of precious times spent together sustain you and dampen your overwhelming grief at this time.