The Service of Remembrance for Lilian Margaret Zeller, age 92, of Carson, ND will be held at 2:00 p.m. MT, Friday, May 22, 2009 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Carson with Pastor Dale Carmen officiating.

Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation. Her ashes will be buried in the North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery in Mandan, ND, along with her husband's ashes, in 29 years after Reuben has finished all his projects.

Lilian Margaret Villars "Margaret" was born February 13, 1917 in London, England to Thomas L. and Emily L. (Collier) Villars. After completing schooling in London she was a stenographer for a group of attorneys. During World War II she was a British civilian hired by the United States Army as a stenographer in the Area Petroleum Office of Eisenhower's Headquarters in London. She met Reuben Zeller in the Area Petroleum Office and they worked together for three years, where Reuben was Chief Clerk. Before she and Reuben could marry the war ended. The London office was closed and the headquarters was moved to Paris, France. She worked in France and Germany for the United States Army for two years before she could acquire military transport to the United States. She arrived in Carson on July 15, 1947 and on July 30, 1947 she and Reuben were finally married.

After her children were in school, she worked for Grant County Social Services for many years. When her children were young, she was active in Music Mothers, Homemakers, the Presbyterian Women and was a Sunday school teacher. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed reading, especially to her grandchildren, and knitting. She knitted many pairs of mittens for family and charities.

Lilian passed away on Monday, May 18, 2009 at the Jacobson Memorial Care Center in Elgin at the age of 92.

Enriched for having shared her life are her husband of 61 years, Reuben H. Zeller, Carson, ND; one son, John D. Zeller, Carson, ND; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Kathleen and Pete Ripplinger, Billings, MT, Christine Zeller, Flasher, ND, Julie and Randy McCabe, Bismarck, ND; six grandchildren, Melissa Ripplinger and Dawn Ripplinger, Billings, MT, Steven Zeller, Chicago, IL, Alanna Zeller, Fargo, ND, Jamie McCabe, Chicago, IL, and Jason McCabe, Bismarck, ND; one great-grandson, Kiernan Ripplinger, Billings, MT; special niece and nephew, Sally Garratt and Robert Villars, London, England.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Raymond, Ernest and Douglas Villars; and one sister, Kathleen Villars, all of London, England.

In lieu of flowers, make a donation to your favorite charity.