Tributes

Louise Bertha Ella Lena Vohs Hollister of Corvallis died Wednesday, preceded in death by her husband, her parents, all four sisters and all three brothers. She was the 96-year-old matriarch of a large family with two children (Bob and Sue), 11 grandchildren (Kathy, Jenny, Linda, Lynette, Tom, Carrie, Becky, Dave, Heather, Annie and Misty), 31 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Louise (“Lisa,” “Dida”) was the seventh of eight children born in a German immigrant farm family who, as pioneers, plowed virgin prairie sod in western Minnesota. She was very proud of her rural heritage. She married Ken (“Wickie,” “Bopo”), a high school biology/chemistry teacher, in 1937. They lived in several Minnesota towns (longest in Faribault), and moved to Corvallis in 1961. Her son, Bob (Judy), lives in Maine; her daughter, Sue (Paul), lives in Grants Pass. Ken died in 1989. In addition to raising a family and being very active in church, Louise was a librarian, a classroom volunteer (into her 80s) and an election volunteer; helped organize and run the Soap Creek School Restoration annual road race; raised cattle; designed beautiful gardens; and was a crossword addict and a prodigious reader. She also did a lot of genealogy work; was an accomplished quilter and donated many quilts to the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence; wrote poems; and wrote a book of stories from her life. Louise was very active in the Lutheran Church in Minnesota — preparing Scandinavian dinners, teaching Sunday school, and heading ladies’ organizations. In Corvallis, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she had held nearly every leadership position, including Relief Society president. She had a good sense of humor along with strong moral values that were not negotiable. During her latter years she was cared for by her grandson, Tom Mallonee, who made it possible for her to stay in the home she and her husband designed and built themselves. Visitation is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at McHenry Funeral Home, and 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1205 N.W. Walnut Blvd., Corvallis. A service will begin at 11 a.m. at the church

Tributes

Louise Ella Lena Hollister

June 10, 1916 - February 13, 2013