Linda Meininger, left, of Sidney, is presented with a proclamation from Shelby County Commissioner Bob Guillozet at the Shelby County Annex on Tuesday, May 16. Meininger, a former Shelby County Treasurer, was named the Shelby County Land Bank’s director emeritus. She died at the age of 81 on Sept. 5.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
SIDNEY — Former Shelby County Treasurer Linda Meininger is being remembered as an extremely helpful and diligent public servant. While she was short of stature and soft spoken, those who knew her said she left an imposing legacy of compassion and community service in Shelby County.
Meininger died on Sept. 5 at the age of 81. Her family will hold private funeral services at a later date. A public remembrance was held on Thursday at Sidney Elks Lodge.
According to Meininger’s sister, Susan Bertsch, “She’s always been sweet, helpful and volunteering. She was a good big sister.”
As a Sidney High School student, she was busy with tennis, golf and bowling. She was voted both Homecoming Queen and Prom Queen.
“She belonged to a ton of different organizations,” Bertsch said.
As an adult, she became involved with Kiwanis, CASA, POWER, the YMCA, Shelby County Democratic Party and the Sidney City Schools Board of Education, among other organizations.
Meininger’s work history includes time selling snacks at the G.C. Murphy five-and-dime store at the age of 15. She also worked as a dental assistant for Dr. David Fields and Brokers Real Estate. In 1985, Meininger was hired as a deputy Shelby County treasurer while her dad, Gerald Billing was county treasurer.
In 2003, Meininger was appointed to the position of Shelby County Treasurer. She won reelections for the position until 2016 and retired the next year after 33 years in the office.
Attorney Tom Kerrigan, of Sidney, worked closely with Meininger as an assistant prosecutor while she was treasurer. He remembers her as “extremely smart. She was diligent in her job.”
“She was incredibly compassionate and did a phenomenal job working with people,” Kerrigan said.
During the economic crisis of 2008-2010 when, according to Kerrigan, “people were being foreclosed upon left and right,” he and Meininger would sit down with people who owed taxes and work out payment plans and help them make payments on their accounts.
“Her main skill, I think, was actually that she could communicate very well with everybody,” Kerrigan said. “I don’t care if you had $10 million in the bank or you didn’t have a penny in your pocket. She treated them the same.”
The inspiration for much of Meininger’s work ethic and caring for the community can be traced back to her dad, Billing.
In a 2003 SDN story about her new job as treasurer, Meininger said of her dad, “My father instilled a work ethic in me. I’ve always had great admiration and respect for him.”
Billing also set an example for Meininger as a mayor of Sidney. He also served in World War II where he was stationed in both Africa and Germany. Meininger was only a few months old when he left but over 3 years old when he returned.
While overseas, Billing would mail dolls and other gifts to Meininger, Bertsch said.
Meininger kept these gifts from her father for the rest of her life.
Aside from Bertsch, she is survived by her brother Gerald Frederick Billing Jr. of Sidney, numerous stepchildren grandchildren and great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Reach Sidney Daily News reporter Luke Gronneberg at 937-538-4825.
