Louise Schultz

Louise Maria Schultz, age 99, passed away at her home on May 5, 2024. Louise was the youngest of six children born to George and Mary Martin on the family farm near Blue Grass, North Dakota. Her youth was spent on the farm playing with animals and climbing every tall structure she could find…much to the amusement and vexation of her mother who would at times have to come and rescue her! She attended country school and later moved with her parents into the town of Glen Ullin, North Dakota where she completed high school and enthusiastically participated in all it had to offer.

She was a member of the "greatest generation". During WW11, she moved to Portland, Oregon where she worked as a welder in a shipyard, helping to build ships for the war effort. After the war, Louise moved to San Diego where her niece Doris and Doris' husband Danny were living. Bill Schultz, one of her suitors from Glen Ullin, followed Louise to San Diego and they were married in November of 1948. They were life partners for 73 years until Bill's death in December 2021. She was the loving mother to three daughters, Diane, Phyllis, Mary and son William (Billy).

While in her 30s, Louise decided it was time to learn to swim. She took lessons at the local YMCA and became so adept at it that she became a member of a synchronized swimming team and performed in numerous choreographed water shows for the Billings community. Louise and Bill were also members of a weekly square dance club.

Although humble about her skills, Louise was a talented seamstress sewing all the draperies for her home and numerous band costumes and even amplifier covers for Billy and his many bands. She was also an accomplished upholsterer, doing a professional job recovering a recliner, dining chairs and large armchairs. She was a wonderful cook and always made sure her family had a delicious dinner complete with salads, entrée and desserts every night. She baked numerous loaves of homemade bread every week. All the kids in the neighborhood were jealous because they only had store-bought bread! She made the best authentic Austrian strudel which she learned to make from her Mother. She had a green thumb and her yard was always full of beautiful flowers.

Louise was interested in health and nutrition. We all remember her lining the four of us up in the kitchen to take our cod liver oil, brewer's yeast and the dreaded desiccated liver powder! We would hold our noses while we swallowed and eat soda crackers after! She was a member of a health club and was still going to work out well into her 80's.

For many years she worked side by side with her husband, Bill, building and operating the largest laundromat in the city. They also bought a lot and trailer in Sapphire Village near Utica Montana where they spent many enjoyable summers digging for yogo sapphires

Louise loved to travel and visited Germany, Italy, Austria, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Hawaii (several times) and many other U. S. States. She and Bill enjoyed annual visits back to their home in Glen Ullin as well as many family trips to the mountains of Montana where they enjoyed cooking out and hunting for rocks and wildflowers.

Louise loved reading. Her home was overflowing with books. She also loved crossword puzzles and word jumbles. She always said her day wasn't complete if she hadn't done at least one. She was the ultimate fan of "Days of Our Lives" and watched all 59 seasons from its inception in 1965.

At age 59, Louise was diagnosed with stage four cancer. She was determined to beat it and did!! She went on to live a robust and healthy 40 more years!

Louise radiated beauty inside and out. She never complained when her life was challenging and embodied a strength of spirit to inspire us all. She gave unconditional love to all her family members and was much loved in return.

Louise is survived by daughters Diane (Sini) Kengike, Phyllis Walker, Mary Schultz, and son William (Sharon) Schultz; as well as five grandchildren, Sini Kengike, Noah Kengike, Andrew (Genevieve) Walker, Katherine Walker, David (Courtney) Walker and six great grandchildren.

Louise was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary Martin, brothers Frank (Catherine) Martin and George (Viola) Martin, sisters Helen (Nick) Weiand, Mary (Bill) Kastner, and Anna (Eddie Weiand).