Louise M. Mahns

Louise M. Mahns

LEWISTON, Idaho — Louise M. Mahns was born Myrtle Louise Hensley on Oct. 1, 1921, to Gaylord and Alma Hensley in Oregon County, Mo. She was one of seven children. Her siblings were Lavern, Bud, Virginia, Floyd, Lloyd, and Joseph.

She moved from Missouri to Montana in the late 1930s with the majority of the Hensley family and her young son Paul.

During her time in Montana, she worked on farms and ranches caring for and working side by side with the men folk while raising four sons, Paul Eckman and Karl, Fred, and Garth Mahns. Louise moved back to Oregon County, Mo., in 1978 and bought a home on 80 acres just outside of the small town where she grew up.

Louise moved to Culdesac, Idaho, in 1990 and bought a home across from her oldest son Paul Eckman. Retirement was not a concept she understood, and she worked as a care provider into her 80s. She often described her work as "taking care of old folks, " many of whom were younger than her. She moved a short distance to The Highlander Apartments in Lewiston, Idaho, in 2006 remaining there enjoying an active life until the time of her passing.

Louise was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, and her son Karl. She is survived by three sons, 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, as well as many friends both in Idaho and Montana.

Louise passed peacefully at 8:33 am on Sunday May 15, 2011, at 89 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho, surrounded by family and friends.

Please join us at the Edward's Funeral Chapel in Chinook, Mont., at 2 p. m. July 29, 2011. Following the memorial, a ceremony will be held at the Cooper Memorial Cemetery to place Louise's ashes in her final resting place.