Louise Wanda Hickethier

Louise and her husband, Lloyd E Hickethier, were wed June 25, 1953. After 60 years of marriage, Lloyd preceded Louise in death, and both are with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Together, Lloyd and Louise shared the joy of their three children--Dennis, Jeannie, and Cheryl.

Louise, born in Epping, North Dakota, was the eldest of seven children to Gladys (Grasser) and Rudy Reinholtz. As a child the family moved west to Jackson Prairie (by Centralia), Wash. Her father worked as a Lumber Engineer, where he would have a major life-threatening injury.

The family had to work hard, harvesting, picking, and canning their own food, and baking.

As a teenager the family moved to Gaston, Ore., where the children would be able to continue Christian education at Laurelwood. As a senior in academy, Louise was ready to move away from home (five sisters and one brother). She attended the boarding academy in Battleground, Wash., Columbia Academy, a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian school with a work-study program. Louise had musical talents in piano and vocal. She enjoyed making new friends, and many of these classmates would become lifelong friends.

As an adult Louise would use her musical gifts in children’s ministries, organizing and participating in church worship. She encouraged the development of the young people to advance their gifts for God through music.

Education was important to Louise. Louise’s mother, Gladys, returned to school as an adult, after her seven children were raised, and became a nurse.

Likewise, Louise attended college while still working, as the children became junior high and high school age. Louise first obtained her two-year RN degree through Portland Community College; then, while working as a nurse, attended Oregon Health & Science University. In 1979 she would receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at age 47.

Louise would graduate from college one year before her youngest child, Cheryl, would graduate from Walla Walla College (1980). Cheryl would continue to medical school, graduating from Loma Linda University. During this same time frame both Dennis and Jeannie, also would attend college, and establish their own homes.

Louise is survived by her three children, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two sisters.

Dennis E Hickethier, Damascus, Oregon

Jeannie L (Bob) Miller, Cedar Mill, Oregon

Cheryl B. Hickethier, MD, MPH, Cedar Mill, Oregon

Shelly Hickethier, RN, BSN, Boise, ID

Stacey (Brian) Hickethier Paige, RN, West Virginia, Great-grandson, Ruxin

Steven Hickethier, Damascus, OR

Sandra (Lucas) Hickethier Anderson, College Place, Washington

Jeromy (Angela) Miller, Canby, OR Great-grandchildren Austin, Jake, & Maddison

Trenton N Miller, Cedar Mill, OR The grandson who was the care-helper for Louise.

Her surviving sisters Ruby Schulden, Stayton, OR

Vonnie Halbash, Aloha, OR

Louise was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd, her three sisters, Ardine, Eunice, Edith, and her brother LeRoy.