Lillian Mathiesen

Lillian K. Mathiesen, age 94, formerly of Belleville, Kansas, left this earthly life on Friday, August 6, 2021 at South Park East Nursing Home in Oklahoma City, OK. She was born on September 11, 1926 in Butte, Nebraska to Heinrich “Henry” and Katherina “Katherine” (Roth) Schroetlin. Her family moved to Sutton, NE, where she attended the  Ainsworth schools.  At the age of 16, Lillian worked at the Ammunition Depot in Hasting, NE. In 1950 she moved to Wichita, KS, where she worked at American Electric as a bookkeeper.

She married James “Jim” O. Stroh on June 21, 1952. They had two sons, David and Mark, and lived in Wichita for about ten years before moving to Belleville. Lillian worked at the Belleville Building and Loan and later she and Jim opened Jim’s OK Tire Store. Jim passed from a heart attack on April 30, 1973. Lillian continued to own and operate the tire store until she retired and sold the business. She later married Verdell A. Mathiesen on January 16, 1975 in Chester, NE. He preceded her in death on June 26, 2016. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Chester, NE.

Lillian is survived by her sons, David (Alesia), Midwest City, OK, and Mark (Kathie), Ellinwood, KS; step-children, Debra (Tom) Skucius, Cuba, KS, Denise Mathiesen, Concordia, KS, David (Brenda Shelton) Mathiesen, Berthoud, CO, and Doug Mathiesen, Overland Park, KS; 19 grandchildren; numerous great and great-great grandchildren; brother, Benjamin “Ben” (Jackie) Schroetlin, Omaha, NE; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, James Stroh and Verdell Mathiesen; sisters, Erma Franklin, Martha Haas and Esther Brown; brothers, Herman Schroetlin, Ted Schroetlin, Bill Schroetlin, Reuben Schroetlin, Arthur Schroetlin and Edgar Schroetlin.

It was Lillian’s wishes to be cremated and the family will hold a Celebration of her Life on September 11, 2021, with burial of the cremains at the Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, KS. Friends may sign the register book from 9 am to 5 pm at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, KS or Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia, KS on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Republic County Resource Council for the Republic County Patriot Project in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.