Hilde Schafer Welke was born July 17, 1928, in Darmstadt, Germany, to parents Marie and Jacob Schafer. She met the love of her life in 1955, a United States serviceman, Lloyd “Honey” Welke, and on July 27, 1959, they married in Karlsruhe, Germany. One month later, they moved to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, leading Hilde to obtain her official United States citizenship in 1961, and in 1966, the happy couple moved to Sidney, Montana. Between 1971-1993, Hilde and Lloyd took care of 106 children in their home daycare. After her retirement from childcare, she enjoyed having coffee and chatting with her friends, church members, and neighbors.

Hilde loved food, and when she was with her nephew, Hans, they would eat at Golden Corral “That Good Steak Place,” as she called it, or a Chinese Buffet. She loved a good mushroom burger, Taco Tuesday, and to cook for her family, with one of her staples being potato dumplings that had to be swimming in gravy. She loved red roses, and if you ever received flowers from her, it was going to be those! She also loved camping, gardening, growing flowers, and crocheting blankets and towels. Most of all, Hilde loved going on a girl’s road trip back to the place she loved the most to see her dear friends, Val and Gail, and others who have now passed on, whom she all loved very much.

In 2018, Hilde moved to Caddo, Oklahoma to be closer to family, where she continued her blanket and towel crocheting, with a grand total of 2,678 beautiful creations being made! Everyone got a crocheted treasure, whether it be a member of the church or a stranger on the street- Hilde would make them and the family would distribute them. Hilde had the biggest heart, loved her family and friends more than anything, and loved to help children in other countries that potentially went without.

Hilde is survived by her beloved nephew, Hans Schafer and wife Reba of Caddo; Godson, Cameron Karst of Fairview; numerous great nieces and nephews; great-great nieces and nephews; great-great-great nephews, Draxxin Snow, and Jettson Nickles; great-great-great niece, Lakelyn Benhardt, whom she called, “My Little Princess.” She is also survived by special friends, Don and Val Franz of Sidney, and Gail Walla of Crane.

Hilde is preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Marie Schafer; her husband of 34 years, Lloyd Welke; her three sisters, Anna Schafer, Freida Schafer, and Lina Simonis.

Hilde is finally in the place she has wanted to be which is with her Heavenly Father, family, friends, and her Honey.