Clear, 32° F
(Mar. 2, 2008)
Billings resident Charlene Carol Schulz, a native of the Lovell and Deaver area, died March 2 at the Billings Clinic. She was 62.
She was born March 25, 1945, in Kane, a daughter of Loren and Leona Hoffman Tilley. She attended schools in Lovell and Belfry, Mont., graduating from Lovell High School. She continued her education at Billings Business College.
She worked for a time in North Carolina and California as a bookkeeper before returning to the Billings area in the early 1970s. She worked in bookkeeping at Higgenbothom Jewelers, Deaconess Hospital, the World of Rodeo and various accounting firms.
Char, as she was affectionately known, married Kurt Schulz on Sept. 1, 1979, and the couple made their home in Billings. She and Kurt owned and operated the Billings Foreign Car Service.
She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in her late 20’s. Athough the arthritis crippled her, she never let it beat her. She handmade gifts for her children, nieces, nephews and friends, took classes in cake decorating and even got Kurt to help with the cakes.
She and Kurt took part in the International Chili Society Cook-Offs for 20 years. She was a founding member of the Yellowstone Region of the Sports Car Club of America and a life-time member of the Associates of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Survivors include her husband, Kurt of Billings; two sons, Paul E. and Eric L. Schulz of Billings; her sisters, Sherry (Kurt) Nelson and Gloria (Everett) Dudley; her brothers, Edward (Helen), Donald , Jerry (Corine), Melvin (Sherry Kay), Earl (Karen), Dennis (Gina) and Marvin (Linda) Tilley, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Joyce; and brother-in-law, Dick Buster.
Cremation has taken place, and private inurnment will be at a later date. Memorial services were held March 8 in Billings.
