Monday, November 2, 2009

Louise Eleanor Verheek Hyndman Johnson--my mother!

Louise Eleanor Verheek Hyndman Johnson was a warm, loving, and thoughtful woman whose life ended on September 13, 2009, in Bremerton, Washington at the age of 93. Louise had compassion for others and served her family and friends with affection and generosity. She had a beautiful cheerful smile and was always ready to give heartfelt encouragement.

Louise was born August 29, 1916 in a small four-room house in Ogden, Utah to Abel and Hanna Verheek.

School was easy for her and she skipped a couple grades in grade school and graduated from Missoula County High School in June 1933 at the age of sixteen and then attended the University of Montana for two years majoring in business.

In May of 1936 she married Charles Benjamin Hyndman in Boulder, Montana.

Louise enjoyed homemaking skills, was a great cook and seamstress. She was generous in giving gifts to family and friends. She was a loyal friend and neighbor making many friends. She also loved to travel. Louise lived in Nome, Alaska for six years from 1944 to 1950 and enjoyed sharing stories of her experiences there.

Louise was a professional business woman and her employment included the Singer Sewing Machine Company, J. C. Penneys, Miners and Merchants Bank, Bank of Columbia Falls, and The First National Bank of Missoula and retired as a bank officer in 1973.

Louise was widowed in 1968. She met and eventually married Howard Johnson in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1972 and they resided in Montana.

She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many positions. She and her second husband Howard were called to serve a church mission in Missouri in 1977.

Louise lived at the Vintage of Bremerton for several years and spent the last year of her life living at her daughter’s home.

Survivors include her daughter Carolyn and David Harris of Bremerton, WA; grandchildren, Michael and Heather Harris of Tucson, AZ; Joan Leahman of Ashburn, VA; Colene and Greg Wright of Rockford, IL; Janet and Jeff Smiley of Meridian, ID; Renee and Carl Tuke of Layton, UT; Jeffrey and Cecilia Harris of Farmers Branch, TX; Steven and Christie Harris of Irving, TX; Judy Johnson of Grants Pass, OR; 21 great grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and five nieces and five nephews.

She is preceded in death by her first husband Charles Benjamin Hyndman; two brothers John Verheek and Herb Lawrence; her sister Florence Bingham Vargo; and second husband Howard Johnson.

A memorial service was held in the Bremerton chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 2225 Perry Avenue, at 4:00pm on Saturday, September 19. Burial was at the Missoula City Cemetery at 3:00p.m. in Missoula Montana.