Louella Strong (1927-2023)
Louella Anna Strong passed away on March 14, 2023, at the age of 95. Louella A. Strong was born Oct. 8, 1927, to German immigrants John and Anna Siemsen in Holyrood, Kan., and lived there until adulthood when she moved to Wichita.
Lou worked as an oil secretary until she retired. She was president of the Oil Secretaries Association and named Woman of the Decade. In retirement, she and Don moved to Lakeview, Ark., where she continued her passion of serving others by volunteering at Baxter Memorial, her church, the library, Cancer Society, was a member of the Elks Lodge in Mountain Home, Ark., and bowling until she was 91. She was able to experience the love of five generations and being a part of her great-great grandchildren’s lives. Lou moved to Wentzville, Mo., in 2020, where she lived until her passing. Louella was the matriarch of her large loving family who cherished and loved her deeply.
She is survived by her three children, Richard Zajic of Iola, Vicki Wideman of Wentzville, Mo. and Layton (Shelley) Strong of Pleasant Valley, Mo.; previous daughter-in-law Mary Lacy; seven grandchildren, Teresa (Mark) Althoff, Rae (Donnie) Moulton, Cathi (Randy) Bornhop, John (Mitzie) Graeler, Lisa (Troy) Smith with sons Parker Smith and Eli Smith, Doug Wideman, Dennis (Candy) Wideman, Austin Ellis, Chase (Angela) with children Landon, Emersyn and Brayton Ellis; 22 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her father, John Siemsen, mother, Anna Siemsen (nee Ehler), husband, Don D. Strong, brother, Herman Siemsen, sisters, Gertrude Cundiff, Mildred Hanaberry, Dorothy Smith and Margaret Mehl and grandchildren, Angela and Rick Zajic.
Visitation is from 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at Pitman Funeral Home, 1545 Wentzville Parkway, Wentzville, Mo., 63385. Funeral will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at Pitman Funeral Home, Wentzville, Mo. Another visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. Friday, March 24, 2023, at St Paul’s United Church of Christ, 301 E. Nassau Ave., Holyrood, Kan. Another funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 24, 2023 at St Paul’s United Church of Christ, 301 E. Nassau Ave., Holyrood. Burial will be in St Paul’s United Church of Christ Cemetery, Holyrood.
Memorials may be made to University of Missouri Extension St. Charles County (https://extension.missouri.edu/counties/st-charles/donate), 260 Brown Rd., St. Peters, MO 63376.