The funeral for Louise Koehntop of Morris, Minnesota will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Morris, with Reverend Paul Erdal officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be at the Summit Cemetery, Morris.
Louise Abel, daughter of William and Louise (Lorenz) Abel was born on March 1, 1915 at Butterfield, Minnesota. She was baptized as an infant at Butterfield and confirmed in the Zion Lutheran Church at Hoffman. Louise graduated from Hoffman High School in 1934. She was united in marriage to Walter Koehntop on November 1, 1939 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Hoffman, through this union two children were born; Marjorie and Phillip. The family made their home on a farm in Stevens County in Swan Lake Township, where Louise farmed alongside Walter. In 1974, the couple moved into Morris. Walter died on December 11, 1978. Louise continued to live in Morris and entered the West Wind Village in May of 2009.
Louise was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hoffman before joining First Lutheran Church in Morris. She taught Sunday school for many years and was active in the ELCA. Louise volunteered her sewing skills for many years at the church and for the V.F.W. She also volunteered at the Nutrition Center. Louise enjoyed working in the kitchen, along with sewing, crocheting, quilting, and gardening. She and Walter traveled to many places; and traveled around the world on a 28 day trip. Most of all, Louise loved being around her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, spending time with family was her passion.
Louise died on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at the Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris. She was 97 years old.
She is survived by: one son, Phillip (Sandy) Koehntop, Hoffman, MN; one son-in-law, David Mecklenburg, Morris, MN;, three sisters, Hulda Larson, Minneapolis, MN, Amelia Alvstad and Esther Johnson, both of Hoffman, MN; four grandchildren; Kevin (Jenny) Mecklenburg, and Loren (Kaylene) Mecklenburg, all of Morris, MN, Lucas (Lisa) Koehntop, Lowry, MN, and Heidi (Jeff) Sell, Wolverton, MN; one sister-in-law, Marvel Koehntop, Starbuck, MN; six great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Louise was preceded in death by her husband, her daughter, Marjorie Mecklenburg, her parents, four sisters, Rosa Rathke, Tillie Mass, Mae Koehntop and Edna Hanson, and three brothers, Rudolph Abel, Daniel Abel and John Abel.