Louise was born in Kemmerer, Wyoming on February 10, 1929 to Herbert (Pap) and Thelda Papenfuss.
She grew up in Kemmerer, Wyoming, Buhl, Idaho, and Salt Lake City, Utah. She graduated from East High School and attended BYU. She married Veirl Williams on June 10, 1949, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they had 4 children, Jerry (Ann), Michael (Diane), Jeffrey (Marilyn), and Debbie (Doug) Orton. Once Debbie started school Louise began her career as a secretary for the Granite School District working at Howard Driggs Elementary and Granite High School.
Louise was always an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held church callings in the Primary, Sunday School, and Relief Society. She will mostly be remembered for her many years of service as the ward organist of the Winder 5th Ward. In fact, for her children, memories of Mom at church are usually of her sitting on the stand next to the organ.
Louise loved time with family whether that was camping, fishing, waterskiing, snowmobiling, or just playing cards. She especially loved time spent at the family cabin at Bear Lake. She created wonderful memories for her family with yearly trips to Yellowstone, Flaming Gorge, and Lake Powell. Louise was always active throughout her life. She drove motorcycles, snow mobiles, ATV’s, and learned to drive a wave runner just last year. She slalom skied in her 70’s and was still driving her car up until last week. Louise is a testament to healthy living and daily exercise. She wore out both knees and hips taking her long daily walks.
For a little girl from Kemmerer, Louise became a world traveler. With Veirl she visited Europe, Scandinavia, Central America, and the Caribbean. They also took long road trips with friends and relatives across America and Canada. Lifelong friends were made on cruise ships and tour busses. Louise did not slow down after Veirl’s passing. In the last four years she took four cruises with granddaughters to Australia, Alaska, the Panama Canal, and finally this last summer to Iceland and Greenland. Special thanks to Angie, Abbey, and Rachel for making these trips possible. As they visited with her in the final hours and talked of the next cruise to the Mediterranean, Grandma told them she was done. She did make one final request of them; a cold Diet Coke. Ahhh!!
Special thanks to Debbie and her family who made daily calls and visits and helped Grandma live independently these last few years.
Louise was preceded in death by her husband Veirl, brother Dr. Herbert Papenfuss, daughter-in-law, Deanna, granddaughter Jami, and almost all of her close friends. She is survived by her children, 21 grandchildren, and 49 great grandchildren.
A morning viewing for Louise will be held Thursday, September 28, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S Highland Drive, Millcreek, Utah 84106. A funeral service will occur Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 11:00 AM, 3401 S Highland Drive, Millcreek, Utah 84106. An interment will occur Thursday, September 28, 2023 at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 Highland Dr, Millcreek, Utah 84106.
