Elizabeth C. Goff

Elizabeth (Bordlowna) Goff, greeted by the choirs of angels, stepped into God’s radiant light and was lifted to eternal paradise on January 24, 2014 at the age of 86. A vigil service will be held on Friday, January 31, 2014 at 5 pm at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Funeral liturgy will be held Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 11 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Arrangements are being handled by O’Connor Funeral Home. Elizabeth was born in Bielsko-Biala, Poland on October 21, 1927, which resulted in the tragic death of her mother, Hildegard Bordl, during child birth. Her father, Karl Bordl, died during World War II and Elizabeth was raised by her paternal grandparents. At the age of twenty, she found refuge in a displaced persons camp in West Germany. Because of her fluent English, Elizabeth secured a sales clerk job at the U.S. Army Post Exchange in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Did she ever dream she would meet the love of her life there and ultimately share 62 years of enduring love with such a handsome U.S. Army soldier, Rick? Their whirlwind romance was interrupted by the onset of the Korean War. Rick was ordered to remain behind in West Germany and their marriage plans were postponed. Elizabeth embarked alone on her scheduled journey to the United States. Valiantly making her way to San Francisco in November of 1950, Elizabeth was welcomed by Richard’s family, whom she had never met, and was quickly accepted. The couple was married July 21, 1951, and transferred to the Great Falls Air Force (East) Base. They were blessed with Christine in 1952 and Michael in 1957. Propelled by her love of this country, Elizabeth received her U.S. citizenship on November 8, 1954. She began a career at the Montana Deaconess Hospital as a Histology Technician that would span thirty-six years, and retired in May of 1990. This allowed her to pursue her hobbies of knitting, crocheting, reading, music, traveling, and relaxing at the family summer home on the Dearborn River. Later afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease, Elizabeth received loving care from her dedicated, earthly angels at Missouri River Medical Center in Fort Benton. Her family is especially grateful for the comfort provided her there since June 2011. Despite her illness, Elizabeth’s beautiful smile never wavered. . Elizabeth is survived by her husband Richard; daughter Chris (Louie) Maillet; son Michael (Lori) Goff; grandsons Jeffrey, Justin, Mick, and Cody; seven great-grandchildren; and cousin Dr. Brygitta Butrymowicz of Lodz, Poland. Memorials are suggested to Missouri River Medical Center, P.O. Box 249, Fort Benton, MT, 59442