Remembering Louise
Born April 7, 1913, Steger, Illinois
Died March 7, 2011, Portland, Oregon at the age of 97
Louise Seim was the ninth child of H. William and Emma Kruse Meyer. She was born and raised in the parsonage as the daughter of a Lutheran pastor. She referred to herself as “Louie the 9th” and was particularly close to her sister Emma Louise, who was two years older. Five more siblings were born to the family making a total of eight daughters and six sons. The family moved from Illinois to Nebraska, where Rev. Meyer continued his ministry.
Louise was baptized into the Christian faith by her father as an infant. She received instruction in the teachings of the Lutheran church and confirmed her baptism at the age of fourteen. She graduated with honors from Oxford High School, Oxford, Nebraska in 1930, and went to work in the local physician’s office. She learned to play the piano from her older sister Agnes and often several of the sisters were called upon to entertain visiting pastors and church members with their musical talent. Louise and younger sister Olga went on to serve as church organists.
When her family moved from Oxford to Worms, Nebraska, Louise elected to move to Wichita and live with her brother Bill and family. She went to work at a local legal office as a secretary. She was active in the Walther League at Immanuel Lutheran Church and served as an officer and delegate to a national convention in Houston. Her photo albums recount her friendships and activities.
In 1936 she went to Worms to participate in the wedding of two of her sisters, Olga and Ruth, who married Ray and Don Seim, respectively. Ray and Don were cousins who had jobs working in construction at the Bingham copper mine in Utah. She met Alton, Don’s younger brother at the wedding and they began a long distance correspondence. Alton had also moved to Utah and worked with Don and Ray and several other Nebraska transplants. In 1940, Alton bought a ring and mailed it to Louise in Wichita, asking her to become his wife. She accepted and they were married on June 1, 1941 at Immanuel.
The newlyweds moved to Midvale, Utah where they joined sisters Emma, Ruth and Olga and their families. Ray and Olga eventually returned to Nebraska and sister Sam and her husband Don moved to Ogden, Utah. All were actively involved in Lutheran congregations. Alton and Louise joined St. John’s and bought a new house in Salt Lake City. Their marriage was blessed with four children - Daniel, Catherine, Richard and Paul. All were born in Salt Lake City and all attended St. John’s Lutheran School across from Liberty Park near downtown Salt Lake City.
In the mid 1950’s, Redeemer Lutheran Church was formed and Alton and Louise were invited to become charter members. The church met in the parsonage while a new facility was being built. Alton served as an elder and Louise was the congregation’s organist for many years. Their children were active in Sunday School and youth activities. Louise faithfully went to the church every Saturday evening for practice and Alton assisted by making sure the church was ready for worship the following day.
At about the same time, Louise resumed her secretarial career in the office of Scott Wetzel Insurance Adjusters. She was private secretary to the owner and assisted claims adjusters as typist, serving the company for twelve years while Alton continued his electrician career.
In the late 1960’s, construction work declined in Salt Lake and Alton found work in Davenport, Iowa. Louise eventually joined him after selling the house and saying goodbye to her friends and the mountains she loved. They again became actively involved at Trinity Lutheran Church in Davenport and Louise worked part time at a local legal firm. She also served as substitute organist when needed.
Retirement and being close to children and grandchildren brought Alton and Louise to Portland, Oregon in the early 80’s. They settled in and took up remodeling their home in the Hollywood District. All of their children eventually moved to the Portland area and Alton and Louise hosted many family gatherings in their restored home. They also connected with Saved By Grace Lutheran Church in Gresham, which was opening its doors at a public school. When the church purchased a vacated funeral home, Alton was involved in many of the renovation projects and Louise served the congregation as organist.
Louise is survived by Alton, her husband of 69 years; sons Daniel and Sandra, Cornelius, Oregon, Richard and Margaret, Oregon City, and Paul and Holly, Kent, Washington; daughter Catherine, Lake Oswego, Oregon; sisters Ruth and Sam; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Her extended family includes nieces, nephews and their families who remember her fondly for her warm sense of humor and love for family gatherings.
The funeral service was held at Saved By Grace Lutheran Church, Gresham, at 2:00 pm on Monday, March 14 with internment at River View Cemetery on Tuesday, March 15, at 10:00 am. A reception followed the Monday service. Memorial gifts are being directed to Saved By Grace Lutheran Church for the purchase of a hearing assistance system.