Tillie Theresa Rentmeister passed away on her 98th birthday in her daughter’s home in Helena on November 20, 2025. Tillie was born in Corraine, Utah to Cora Marie Jensen and Raymond Emery Redlings in 1927. While in school, Tillie met her husband, Wallace John Rentmeister, World War II veteran, they eventually married on March 24, 1945. The pair would have three kids and moved around the area until they settled down to dairy ranch near Twin Bridges, Montana. As a family, Tillie and Wallace would take their children on outdoor excursions, taking their entire family on hunting and fishing trips. Tillie’s daughters have found memories of walking deep into the Montana forest to find the perfect Christmas tree. After Wallace passed away in 1968 Tillie moved to Helena, Montana where she would live for the rest of her life. While living there Tillie met and married John Lakner and spent 15 years of marriage together until Lakner’s death. In her spare time Tillie was a gardener, baker, and craftswoman. She would tend to her garden, a menagerie of all sorts of fruits and vegetables and canned the produce that were not eaten fresh. Her family remembers the smell of weekly fresh baked bread, rolls, and many other baked goods all of which Tillie needed no receipt from her years of practice. Tillie was also known for going above and beyond during the holiday season, paying close attention to detail and meticulously adding tinsel string by string to her Christmas tree. Tillie was known to wrap all her Christmas presents with care and beauty, her family members unable to ignore the intricate wrapping on gifts she gave. In addition to her craftsmanship Tillie was an amateur artist, her paintings of landscapes and ordinary household objects full of vibrant color and advanced perspective, many of her paintings hung up in family members bedrooms and hallways. Tillie was crotchier, weaving together afghan blankets and cloth ornaments for her many family members as gifts. Tillie is survived by her three daughters Terry, Alice, and Vicki two stepdaughters, Louise and Pat, 17 grandchildren, 42 great- grandchildren, and 24 great-great grandchildren, whom Tillie was very proud she lived long enough to have. Funeral Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1260 Otter Road in Helena, Montana.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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