Eileen Lehmann, 84, Bismarck, N.D., passed away at her home surrounded by her family, on July 9, 2012, after a brief bout with brain cancer. A funeral service will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Bismarck, with the Rev. John Guthrie officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Bismarck Funeral Home with a 7 p.m. rosary service.

Eileen M. Broxmeyer was born on May 11, 1928, to John and Irene (Tavis) Broxmeyer in Bismarck, N.D. The Broxmeyers spent a short time in Santa Rosa, Calif., during the Depression and the moved back to Bismarck, where Eileen attended St. Mary’s Central High School. She graduated from St. Mary’s in 1946. While in high school, Eileen worked at the Sweet Shop on Main and National Tea grocery store in Bismarck. She then spent one year at Bismarck Commercial College and then went to teach in a one room school at Blue Grass, N.D., for the next year.

Eileen decided then to move to St. Paul and worked for an insurance company in Minneapolis. This is where she met her “knight-in-shining armor,” Bob Lehmann, on a blind date. They married on July 25, 1953. They started a family while living in Alden where they had a daughter Annette, but she was eventually followed by the births of Rob, Randy and Ranae. 1959-60 were tough years for bricklayers, so Eileen and Bob packed up the kids and the house and moved to Bismarck in 1960 and have been there ever since.

During the school years of her kids, Eileen was employed by Arrowhead Dan’s Super Valu for many years. She was there so long, that her two boys would end up working the same shift and have to pack groceries for her at her till. We think she knew every customer that ever came into that store. Her people skills made her a great ambassador for Super Valu. After she left Super Valu, she had a side business that made her famous Tom & Jerry Batter and Hot Buttered Rum Batter. She supplied most of the liquor establishments during the holiday season with her product. As a byproduct of her little business, she gave George’s Bakery some friendly competition. This eventually led her to taking over Dakota Maid Bakery in the mid-1980s. Her baking and people skills really were showcased there. She was able to keep and build on the loyal customer base from the previous owners.

In 1993 she retired and sold the bakery. She concentrated on her kids, grandkids, other family members and even grand dogs. The ambush by the brain tumor was a surprise, but she fought with grace and dignity.

Eileen’s home had an open door policy, family and friends would come over for get-togethers and coffee and who ever came usually stayed.

Eileen is survived by her two sons: Rob (Marsha) Lehmann and Randy (Bernelda) Lehmann; daughter Ranae (Kevin) Coughlin; seven grandchildren: Max D. (Brittany) Sanford III, Dillon Sanford, Kathryn (Brian) Wacker) Austin, Michael Rhoades, all of Bismarck, Dave (Trisha) Freeman, Joans (Tanya) Freeman, Sarah Rhodes, all of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and others she was proud to call friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; daughter, Annette; her parents, John and Irene Broxmeyer; and two brothers: John (Brox) and Charles.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the God’s Child Project or to St. Alexius Hospice.

Go to www.bismarckfuneralhome.com to sign the online guestbook or to send a message of condolence to the family.