Kalliopi Torgerson

BELGRADE - In the beginning Mom was born in Mavraoutha, a little village in North Western Greece, close to the border with Yougoslavia on March 10, 1931, or 1932. She was the second daughter born to Anastasios and Ebgenia Vassiliathou. The first daughter was named Kalliopi, but died soon after birth, and when my mother came along her parents named her by the same name. Kalliopi lived in that village until 1942 and by that time my grandparents Anastasios and Ebgenia had four daughters to feed. In 1942, the family moved to Thessaloniki, Greece, eking out a living in a war torn country for the next eight years. In December of 1947, when Kalliopi was sixteen it was arranged for her to marry Sawas Lazarides, my father; they, being the eldest of both families. In April of 1949, she gave birth to her only child, Kostas Lazarides.

In December of 1956, by the Grace of God, and by the kindness and generosity of Anna Berkstead and Robert and Ida Seevey of Savage, Mont., the Lazarides family along with Kalliopi's younger sister Parthena, (Tina) emigrated from Greece to Savage, Mont. The family had much to learn in a short period of time about America! And learn they did; proudly! And found a new beginning in a new land which became their new home. After a year and half of living on the farm in Savage, Kalliopi and her family moved to Billings, in June of 1958, taking up residency there until the year 2000. During those years she worked at the Billings Laundry, the Rex Laundry, Pacific Hide and Fur, and at many other jobs including working for her friends the Benders at Bender's Auction for many years, plus raising her "guitar playing" son! She was a marvelous cook of Greek and American cuisine. Many will attest to that! Kalliopi also enjoyed gardening, flowers, knitting, traveling, and her church life with her family of friends.

In 1967, she and Sawas Lazarides divorced. In 1972, Kalliopi married Maxwell Torgerson, of Franny, Wyo. They were happily married for many years. During her time as a Billings resident she adopted many sons and daughters, fed many friends, neighbors, and stranger; was a friend to one and all in the name of her faith. Kalliopi gave all she had to give from a kind word, to her prayers, to a helping hand every day she lived. When Max Torgeson died, Kalliopi moved to Belgrade, Mont., to be close to me, her son Kostas. At first she lived in her own apartment taking care of her domestic duties, but in time she wore out and I moved her to Elsie's Assisted Living in Belgrade, where she got the special attention I could not give her. In Belgrade, as in Billings and Savage, and where ever she lived prior, she made many new friends, adopted many new sons and daughters, fed numerous hungry faces, all in the name of her faith. In the beginning of her life she was called Kalliopi, in the middle of her life, many called her Kally, and for the last twenty or thirty years many called her Yia Yia, which means Grandmother in Greek. To me, she has always been Mom.

Mom passed away into the hands of the Lord on December the twelfth of 2012. Where I know she has found peace and will suffer no more. She is survived by her sisters, Tina Oxley of Billings, Helene Romouthis, Anastasia Vassilithou, Athina Herepoulou, and Lazaros Vassiliathis; numerous loving nieces, nephews all living in Greece and America; her son me, Kostas Lazarides of Belgrade, Mont.; and my beautiful daughter Sofia Lazarides.

Arrangements are in the care of Dahl Funeral Chapel and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com

Kalliopi Torgerson