Richmond-Elisabeth Bongers Umberhind, 88, of the Alexander-Reed Rd died IN FALMOUTH on Sunday, September 12, 2010 after a long illness.

She was born Aug. 6, 1922 in Berlin, Germany the daughter OF Maria and Adalbert Muëller. Elisabeth was educated in Berlin, while in high school Elisabeth danced in the opening ceremonies of the 1936 Olympic Games. After finishing high school in 1938 she studied ART IN Berlin, Munich and Dresden WITH A FOCUS ON SCULPTURE.

Elisabeth married the painter Siegfried Bongers in 1948 in Munich where they gave birth to their son Michael in 1950. She and Siegfried divorced IN 1955. In 1972 Elisabeth TRAVELED TO RICHMOND TO VISIT A UKRANIAN PAINTER FRIEND WHO HAD COME TO MAINE AFTER RETIREMENT. DURING THAT VISIT ELISABETH WAS INTRODUCED TO Wallace Umberhind, THEN A RICHMOND BACHELOR DAIRY FARMER. WALLACE AND ELISABETH MARRIED IN 1974 AND LIVED TOGETHER HAPPILY FOR SEVERAL DECADES IN THE HOME WALLACE BUILT THEM AFTER SELLING HIS DAIRY HERD.

ONCE SETTLED IN RICHMOND, ELISABETH CONTINUED TO SCULPT. SHE WORKED IN SEVERAL MEDIUMS BUT WAS PARTICULARLY DRAWN TO WOOD. WALLACE, WHO BY THEN WAS WORKING A SAWMILL HE BUILT, KEPT HER WELL SUPPLIED. ELIZABETH exhibited her work at several galleries throughout Maine. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER SON, MICHAEL BONGERS, OF JEVER, GERMANY, HIS WIFE EBBY, THEIR SONS PATRICK AND MANUEL AND GREAT GRANDSONs, LOUIS and Niklas.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial visitation on Friday, October 8th from 6 to 8pm at Kincer Funeral Home 130 Pleasant St. Richmond.

Arrangements are under the care of Kincer Funeral Home, Richmond.