LOUISE VILLETT obituary

HINGHAM - Louise Catherine Villett, 88, of Hingham died Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004, at Northern Montana Hospital.

A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Hingham Lutheran Church. A luncheon will be held at the church following burial at the Hingham Cemetery.

Louise was born on Oct. 17, 1916, at Hingham to John and Barbara (Duerr) Haas. She grew up in Hingham and received her formal education there. She graduated from Hingham High School in 1937.

Louise married Sterling R. Villett on Jan. 10, 1938, at Havre. In the early years, they lived at Big Sandy, Box Elder and Butte, where Sterling worked in the coal mines. In 1944, they moved to Hingham, where they lived the rest of their married life. Louise enjoyed her role as homemaker and mother of three. In addition, she worked as a clerk in the Hingham grocery store from 1949 to 1969, first for Rose Kocar in the Chicago Store and then for Tony Schweitzer at Schweitzer's Store. Louise also worked part time at the Hingham post office for five years and for Lawrence Struck from 1970 to 1972 in a Rudyard dry goods store.

Sterling died on Aug. 6, 1994, and Louise continued to live their Hingham home until 2002, when she moved into the Eagles Manor in Havre. She moved to the Northern Montana Care Center in May due to declining health.

Louise had been an active member of the Hingham Lutheran Church since 1945. She was a member of the Rachel Circle and did janitorial duties at the church for more than 15 years. She was a member of the Hingham Home Demonstration Club and served on many election boards over the years.

Louise loved to quilt. Between 1977 and 2002, she made approximately 3,000 quilt tops that were donated to Lutheran World Relief. She also made quilts and crafts as gifts for her family and friends. Her hobbies included sewing, crocheting, gardening, reading and jigsaw puzzles. She also enjoyed playing cards, particularly pinochle, poker and hand-and-foot.

Louise was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Sterling; daughter, Laurel Louise Villett; and brother, Mike Haas.

Survivors include her sons, Russell (Betty) Villett of Havre and Lloyd (Carol) Villett of Amarillo, Texas; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers, John Haas of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., and Leonard Haas of Hingham; sister, Ann Fallon of Superior; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Undesignated memorials will be given to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester.