Lillian C. Behm

Lillian Christine Behm, age 88, formerly of Bloomington, Minnesota, died Saturday, February 2, 2019 at Diversicare of Council Grove in Council Grove, Kansas. She was born September 14, 1930 in Shanghai, China, the daughter of William and Glenna (Winter) Wager, a missionary couple. Lillian's early childhood years were spent in China before returning to the United States at age six. Lillian graduated from Zumbrota (Minnesota) High School with the class of 1949. On August 15, 1950, Lillian Wager and William Behm were united in holy matrimony at the "Little Brown Church" in Nashua, Iowa. In 1954 the family built their home in Bloomington, Minnesota where they raised their family of two daughters and a son.

Lillian was a loving wife and devoted mother who enjoyed children and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota in Early Childhood Development. Her love of children was evident as she taught Sunday school, worked in a daycare facility, and served as a nanny. Family was important to Lillian and she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She and William enjoyed traveling to the North Shore of Lake Superior nearly every summer and often in the fall to see the beautiful colors of the fall season.

Lillian is survived by daughters, Gwyneth (Dennis) Throne of Council Grove, Kansas; Diane (David) Mulligan of Two Harbors, Minnesota; grandchildren, Jennie (Tyler) Brown, Michelle (Corey) Hanson, Jerrid (Michelle) Mulligan, David J. (Jessica) Behm, Kyle Behm, Kristopher Behm, and Danielle (Steven) Vang; great-grandchildren, Tylor and Trevor Hanson; Sofie Behm; Logan and Serena Behm; Jaylee, Leo, and Thea Vang; brother Robert Wager of Houston, Texas; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband of 66 years, Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, stepmother, Jennie; son, David; brother, Oliver; and sisters Margaret and Evangeline.