1870 TO 1946
Half-Sister to Ida “Daisy” Falconer
Father: Mr. Beckman – killed in a duel
Mother: Josephine Beckman Falconer
( Remarried Samuel A. Falconer)
Pictures some time before 1905 in Bismarck, N.D.
Married to Alfred L. Von Steiger
Lily Beckman Von Steiger
Wilton, North Dakota (1905)
The following newpaper article describes the Baron Alfred L. Von Steiger of Wilton, North Dakota and his tragic death in Mexico. The Baron was traveling with his partner to look at their gold mine in the Alamos, Sonora region.
Indians attacked Von Steiger and James Norton in their coach. Interestingly James Norton (Von Steiger’s Partner) was not shot.
Did Norton pay these robbers?
Why wasn’t he shot? He could identify the robbers!
Why didn’t Lilly inherit the mine?
Here is James Norton’s Account of the Incident
We will never know the real story.
Why didn’t Fred Langunberger write his version?
Letter from Louis Von Steiger to Lilly
March 29, 1906
Deed to Lilly Von Steiger from Harrie Hart 1913
Barb Washo submitted her version of Lilly Von Steiger’s Life:
The Countess Lilly von Steiger, beautiful, rich, powerful, chased by the
paparazzi, wooed by the rich, the famous, and the infamous men from all over the world. Fifth in line to the throne, and confidante to the King George. (was there a bit more to this than was ever let on?) She was the toast of the world and the darling of all the European Monarchy.
The Duchy of Dishpan belonged to her and all the pheasants living there had her protection, and she their undying loyalty, until she finished the lastone. Under glass of course.
Oh what could have possibly led to her downfall? Scandal? Too much Dom Perigon? The upper class narcotics? No. Her glassy eyed, blank stare was the natural result coming from her too blue blood.
Her downfall came from………………………….NIGHTSHIRTS.
Hundreds of men’s nightshirts were found in the countesses’ attic along with a sewing machine where she (gasp) planned to make aprons out of them. HERSELF.
Submitted by Barb Washo
Ed Larsen described the “Countess” as an opinionated, powerful woman of her day. “Aunty” was a bossy old broad evidently. She worked at the Butler Hotel at 2nd and James in Seattle at one time. She lived the last years of her life with the Albert and Daisy Swanson Family. Daisy was a kind, compassionate, generous younger half-sister.
When Lilly died they found her attic was full of nightshirts, she was planning to make into aprons.