Maria "Hilde" Hildegard Laszat Richardson

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 on Tuesday, May 19, at Crawford Bowers Funeral home. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:30 pm Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 3801 Cunningham Road, Killeen 76542 (new location corner of Cunningham and Elms). Pastor Ray A. Zischang will officiate. Burial will follow at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen where her family and friends will lay her to rest.

Mrs. Richardson born December 25, 1926 in the Trakehnen/Konigsberg area of East Prussia, Germany, to Victor and Emma Laszat Pruszinski.

She was baptized into the Lutheran faith as an infant and confirmed on Palm Sunday 1939, and is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Killeen, Texas.

She was married to her best friend, Carl Edward Richardson of Poplar Bluff, Missouri on July 12, 1952 in Salzburg, Austria.

Hilde grew up on the farm in East Prussia and then fled just prior to World War II, to live with her favorite Aunt Augusta, in Berlin where she learned the bakery trade. She worked mainly in the food service arena during the military travels of Carl’s career, from St. Louis to Hawaii, and from San Francisco to Fort Hood, Texas. She was an avid cook, loved to bake, hosted countless holiday gatherings and summer backyard parties for friends and neighbors, always being the life of the party.

Survivors include her children: Martha and husband Harry Russell of Battle Ground, WA; Ed and wife Georgene Richardson of Baton Rouge, LA; Rita and husband Charles Gaskamp of Brenham, TX; grandchildren: Sean and wife Desiree Russell of San Jose, CA, Karl Edward and wife Jennifer Richardson of Gonzales, LA, Matt and wife Misty Richardson of Baton Rouge, LA, Dana Gaskamp of Cedar Park, TX and Derek Gaskamp of Houston, TX. She is also survived by a sister Traute Adler and husband Walter of Eschweiler, Germany and Ruth Dallagio of Bologna, Italy; in-laws Donald Richardson of Poplar Bluff, MO, and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Hilde is preceded in death by her beloved husband; her parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Osmon Marion and Jessie May Shawn Richardson, brother, Kurt Pruszinski, sister-in-law, Frances Richardson Whittaker, brother-in-laws Ralph Richardson and Marino Dallagio.

Hilde cherished the time she served in retirement with several organizations: Noon Lions Ladies Auxiliary, NCO Wives, 55 and Up, Citizens on Patrol and countless ladies groups at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Sean Russell, Karl Richardson, Matt Richardson and Derek Gaskamp; Freddie Lettman, Doug Duval, Charlie Brinkmeyer and Butch Menking. Honorary pallbearer Dana Gaskamp.

Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, Capital of Texas Chapter.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford Bowers Funeral Home, 1615 S Fort Hood Street, Killeen, TX 76542.