Erika Maria Monteith

Erika Maria "Rikke" Monteith was born on the 12th of December, 1931, to Hedwig and Joseph Lechner in Zell am See, Austria.

Memories of her childhood during the Second World War were both funny and sad. In 1951, during the occupation of Austria, she helped a young American soldier, Marvin Monteith, translate his desired purchases in a grocery store and later married him. She came to the United States in 1957 and received her American citizenship in 1958.

Marvin’s deployments brought her to Nuremberg, Germany, where she worked as an Arts and Crafts Director for American Youth Activities. She then traveled to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where she held a job as Program Director for the Sierra Vista YWCA, while Marvin served a tour in Vietnam.

In 1967, she started working for the then local Junction City USO as a Program Director. After Marvin’s retirement, they made Junction City, Kansas their home.

Erika has two daughters; Louise Gustafson (John), and Elisabeth Ahrer (Herbert).

Six grandchildren; Amy, Jason, Dominic, Joachim, Nadja and Janine.

And 11 great-grandchildren; Gage, Elena, Julius, Avery, Taylor, Severin, Niclas, Lauren, Valentina, Isabelle and Charlotte.

Erika enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening, reading, as well as preparing meals for family get togethers.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ludwig, and her husband Marvin.

Cremation has taken place in the care of Johnson & Mass-Hinitt Funeral Home. A private graveside service will take place at a later date at the Kansas Veteran's Cemetery.