Louise Degeest

Louise Helene DeGeest was born on May 15, 1916 in Chippewa County, MN, the daughter of Johann Jacob and Margarita M. (Ewald) Junker. She was baptized August 6, 1916 in Havelock Townships, MN. She was confirmed on March 29, 1931. On September 22, 1936, she was married to Joseph Faye DeGeest, Sr. in the parsonage in Staples by Reverend William Friedrich. Joe and Louise had five children: Ellen, Donald, Joseph Jr., Charles and Rodney.

Louise was most at home on the farm that she and Joe, Sr. lived on north of Motley. She was a great helpmate to her husband in their farming: driving tractor in the fields and doing many of the daily farm chores.

In the summer, Louise spent a good share of her time in her huge garden. Her patch of strawberries always supplied lots of delicious berries. She enjoyed canning vegetables, meat, jelly and she was known to make wine at times from her fruit trees and fruits from her garden.

Some of her favorite summer activities were: riding the three wheeled ATV around the farm, fishing, and picking wild blueberries.

In the winter, she was always busy sewing quilts as well as her own clothes and doll clothes, knitting and crocheting afghans, making craft gifts, putting puzzles together, playing cards with friends and family, and snowmobiling.

Her cooking specialty was fried chicken and fried fish, homemade noodles, apple dumplings and the pies she made especially for her husband.

Louise was active in the Ladies Guild being president and member, Sunday School superintendent and teacher thereby touching the hearts of many children, homemakers club and being a foster mother for many years.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband, Joe Sr., daughter Ellen, and siblings: John, Wilhelm, Otto, Carl, Hans, Ernest, Eggert, Frieda, Christine, Elsie, Marie and Alma, She is survived by: Donald (Joan), Joe Jr., (Janet) of Motley, Charles (Olivia) of Cushing, Rodney (Carol) of Everett, WA, and Leland DeGeest, 17 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, sisters-in-law, Mary (Paul) Beers and Eleanor (DeGeest) Hellvang, son-in-law Robert Seel, and many nieces and nephews.