Pauline 'Billie' E. Lein

Pauline (Billie) E. Lein died Feb. 2, 2013, at 101 years young. She was born on March 13, 1911, in Portland, Ore., to Ada and Jacob Lemm, a mining engineer. She spent her early years with her two sisters and widowed mother in the mining town of Tonapah, N.V. They later moved to Sacramento, Calif. As a teenager, Billie was enrolled in dance classes and became a very proficient dancer. In the late 1920s, she joined the Fanchon and Marco Dance Troup and performed in large stage shows throughout the U.S. In the early '30s, when the stage shows were no longer playing, she taught dance in Hollywood, Calif., at the Fanchon and Marco Studios. In 1937, she married Leo Lein and they moved to Reno, N.V. During World War II, Leo joined the merchant marines and Billie moved to Los Angeles and helped the war effort by working for North American Aviation building P-51 fighter planes. After the war, they returned to Reno working in the gaming industry. They eventually opened their own club in the 1950s. Billie loved to travel, including extensive traveling in Europe and the South Pacific. Billie enjoyed ice skating, snow-, water-skiing and fishing. After Leo died in 1983, Billie continued living in her own home until failing eyesight and other health issues resulted in a move in 2001 to the life care facility Butterfield Trail Village (BTV) in Fayetteville to be close to her remaining relatives. At BTV, she developed a new group of friends and continued to travel for the next several years. Billie was preceded in death by her parents Ada and Jacob Lemm; sisters, Winifred Hall and Adelene Piper; and husband, Leo Lein. She is survived by nephew, Ed Piper and wife, Jane; and grand-niece, Emily Piper and husband, Ken Muessig. A memorial service is planned for Feb. 6, 2013, in the BTV Convocation Room. Memorials may be made to Butterfield Trail Village, 1923 E. Joyce Blvd., Fayetteville AR; or Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Rd. Springdale, AR 72762; or the charity of your choice.