On Sunday, October 3, 1926, a baby girl, Eda Louise, was born to Freida,
nee Schlicher, Motsenbocker and Claude Motsenbocker. They lived on the
Hoccott Farm, one mile West and one mile North of Hoxie, Kansas. Our
Lord had Louise join him in heaven on April 20, 2022.
She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hoxie, Kansas when she
was two weeks old. She confirmed her faith in the Triune God in 1940 in
the same church.
The family moved six times in Sheridan and Rooks Counties by the
time she was six years old, settling 2 ½ miles East of Seguin. Louise
attended school at Fairview District # 43, Immanuel Lutheran School in
Sheridan County and St. John’s Lutheran School, Orange County,
California.
She graduated from Sheridan Community High School in 1944. Louise
continued her education at Fort Hays State University and Colby
Community College. She taught for three years in Sheridan County
Schools.
Louise married Karl W. Berndt on January 2, 1947, at Calvary
Lutheran Church in Yuma, Arizona. They were married for 56 years. They
became the parents of three children, Janelle, Kristine, and Welton.
Louise often said that her children were her ‘desserts’ in life.
Karl and Louise operated K & L Farms in Hoxie for 50 years. They
moved to Quinter, Kansas in 1997 and became members of Bethlehem
Lutheran Church in Wakeeney, Kansas.
The importance of the Triune God, family, country, and education
were of utmost importance along with honesty and kindness. The value of
time well-spent included her church in teaching Sunday School, Vacation
Bible School, and Weekday classes. She also enjoyed sewing for her
children, knitting, reading and politics.
The major parts of her employment were developing, assisting, and
implementing programs for individuals with health and special needs
including The Northwest Kansas Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc;
The Kansas Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc; The Arthritis
Foundation, and The American Cancer Society.
Throughout the years she volunteered her time and expertise with
numerous organizations and programs including Girl Scouts; SCHS/Hoxie
High School Alumni Association; Developmental Services of Northwest
Kansas; Northwest Kansas Association for Retarded Citizen; Senior
Companion Program at Gove County Medical Center, Long Term Care; and
Foster Grandparent Program at Quinter Elementary School and Tender
Hearts Child Care Center at Gove County Medical Center.
Louise was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Karl; her
son, Welton; her granddaughter, Karen Lynn Lewis; two brothers and three
sisters. She is survived by her children, Janelle Mulvenon (Steve),
Sparks, Nevada, and Kristine Lewis (Tim), Franklin, North Carolina.
Grandchildren are Tracie Lewis, Overland Park, Kansas; Tad Lewis
(Suzanne), Columbia, South Carolina; Andy Lewis, Wichita, Kansas; Ryan
Mulvenon (Kristen), Falls Church, Virginia, and Morgan Mulvenon Tuttle
(Gary), Novato, California. Great grandchildren are Aidan, Thomas, and
Mary Elise Lewis, Columbia, South Carolina and Owen David Tuttle,
Novato, California.
A Funeral Service is planned for Monday, April 25, 2022, 11:00 A.M.,
at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wakeeney, Kansas. A lunch will be
held at the church following the service. Interment will be in the
Lutheran Cemetery in Rural Sheridan County at approximately 2:30 P.M.
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 24, 2022, at the Mickey-Leopold
Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas from 3:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. with family
receiving friends from 3:00 P.M. from 5:00 P.M. A second visitation will
be held at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wakeeney, Kansas, Monday,
April 25, 2022, from 9:30 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. Memorials gifts may be
designated to Prairie Faith Health Ministry, Quinter Elementary
School-Pre-K Classroom, and Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas.
John 6: 39-40 -This is the will of the Father who sent me, that of
all He has given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the
last day. And this is the will of Him who sent me, everyone who sees the
Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life.
Memorials gifts may be designated to Prairie Faith Health Ministry,
Quinter Elementary School-Pre-K Classroom, and Developmental Services of
Northwest Kansas.