Lillian ''Billie'' Stein Articles and Papers

Lillian Stein was born on July 7, 1907 in Denver to David and Rose Stein. Her father was a tailor and a cantor. Her father came to Denver in 1902 and her mother came to America with two sisters in 1905. Lillian was one of two sets of twins, Ida and Sophie and Lillian and Joe. In 1913, she and Ida escaped the great flood by going to the second floor on their house on 13th and Market streets. Billie (Lillian) Stein began playing the trumpet in The Denver Post Boys Band at the age of 10 and gained the nickname of Billie. At the age of 14, she started her all girls jazz band at 14 and took Billie's Harmony Girls jazz band on the road when she graduated from high school at the age of 15. With her jazz band, she traveled throughout the United States performing on her trumpet. She married William Stein in 1939 and they became known as Bill and Billie Stein. The couple had a son and a daughter. In 1941, Bill and Billie ran a successful retaurant and bar in Leadville, Colorado. They came back to Denver and operated the Knickerbocker restaurant at 15th and Chapmpa. After selling the restaurant, Bill and his brother founded the Sealy Mattress company. Billie Stein became involved in many charitable organizations, including the National Council of Jewish Women, Jewish Family and Children's Services, United Way, Hadassah, Rose Hospital, Temple Emanuel and Allied Jewish Federation.