Mary Louise Rothlin

Mary Louise Rothlin passed away peacefully on February 21, 2025, at the age of 92. Born Mary Louise Ryser on June 30, 1932, she was the daughter of Swiss immigrants Paul and Louise Ryser. She spent her early childhood in the small town of Deer Island, Oregon, with her parents and older brother Paul. As a young girl, Mary Louise began her lifelong friendship with Mildred (Nussbaumer) McCabe, while her father worked on the Nussbaumer farm in Vancouver, Washington.

The Ryser family left Oregon in 1945 and settled in Menlo, Washington. Mary Louise attended and graduated from Willapa Valley High School in 1950. She was a cheerleader and a member of the high school choir and band. Mary Louise played piano and would play with bands at local dance halls. She especially loved Swiss music. Even when she could no longer kick up her heels, she would swing her hands and tap her toes when she heard the music that she loved.

After graduation, Mary Louise and Mildred set off for the trip of a lifetime, boarding a ship in New York on their way to Switzerland.

Upon her return to the United States, Mary Louise was greeted at the train station by Ernest Rothlin. Mildred had introduced Ernie and Mary Louise while he was stationed at Fort Lewis. Mary Louise and Ernie were married on June 27, 1953, at St, Mary’s Church in Centralia, where her parents were living. After their wedding, they moved to Patterson, California, where Ernie started a milk hauling route and Mary Louise began raising a very large family. The Rothlins had eight kids while living in Patterson.

In 1969, the Rothlin’s family of 10 moved from a three-bedroom house in Patterson to a dairy farm with a large house in Chehalis, Washington. They lived on the Chehalis farm for 33 years. Mary Louise and Ernie enjoyed playing bingo, trips to Reno with friends, attending Swiss functions and hosting large family gatherings. Family or not, Mary Louise and Ernie always made everyone feel welcome.

When their kids were grown, Mary Louise, an expert at feeding large numbers of kids, took a job as a cook in the school cafeteria for the Chehalis School District.

Mary Louise and Ernie left the Chehalis farm in 2002 but remained in the area until their passing. Mary Louise is preceded in death by Ernie, her husband of 67 years, her parents Paul and Louise Ryser, her brother Paul Ryser and grandson Brian Raschke. She is survived by her eight children, Linda Breen (Greg), Paula McCroskey (John) Ed Rothlin (Shannon), Barb Elder (Greg), Sandra Scates (Lloyd), Jim Rothlin (Kelly), John Rothlin (Brenda) and Teresa Mitchell (Kenny), 21 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren.

The Rothlin Family would like to extend our deepest appreciation to Melissa and Ben Varick and the wonderful staff at Lander House in Centralia for the years of loving care provided to Ernie and Mary Louise.

A rosary service for Mary Louise is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Chehalis. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, March 14, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's followed by a graveside service at Claquato Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph School at 123 SW 6th St, Chehalis, WA, 98532, or to the charity of your choice.