Louella Ludeking

Louella Ludeking, age 86, of Decorah, IA, passed away Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Veterans Memorial in Waukon, IA.

Funeral Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Salem United Church of Christ, 1097 Pole Line Rd, Waukon, IA 52172, with Pastor Susan Klimstra presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water St, Decorah and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Thursday morning.

Louella Ellen Olson was born at home on March 31, 1939, to Hattie Belle Linderman Olson and Ingolf Olson.  She was the youngest of 5 children. She was baptized May 15, 1947. Confirmed in Burr Oak Lutheran Church in 1956.

Louella went to 5 different grade schools among Bluffton, Locust and Harmony, and attended high school in Deer River, Mabel and Canton, Minnesota.  She graduated from Canton High School in 1958.

After high school, Louella worked at the Green Parrot Restaurant in Decorah, Iowa.  She rented an apartment in Decorah at Idel’s Motel.  She shared the apartment with close friend, Georgia Wernet, (married Ron Ludeking.)

Louella met Dervin Ludeking at a dance, held at Matter’s Ballroom in 1958.  After a blissful year of courtship, they wed in 1959, at Burr Oak Lutheran Church.  They were married over 65 years!

Their first home as a married couple was a trailer house on the Ludeking family farm, rural Decorah.

They later moved in to the family farm house, living in ½ of the home, with her friend Georgia and husband Ron Ludeking.

Louella and Dervin moved to a farm a few miles west of the home farm.  They milked dairy cows, raised pigs, sold eggs and crop farmed.  She spent her farm career as the #1 lady in charge of milking.   They would spend summers making hay for their farm, the Ron Ludeking family farm, and the Leonard Tietz family farm, all helping each other, along with their children, and making some great memories.  This is where they resided until retirement.  For off the farm activity, she enjoyed being a Princess House crystal ware and home décor, consultant.

In her later years, she provided daycare for her grandchildren.  Building strong bonds with each of them, which continued into their young adulthood.

She enjoyed getting together on holidays with kids and grandchildren.  Halloween was always special, with the grandchildren trick or treating among her neighborhood, where they lived in Decorah, for her retirement years.  The evening would end with hot pizza from a local restaurant.

Louella and Dervin had 2 children.  A daughter, Linda (Kevin Monroe), born October 13, 1960.  A son Jacob (Cheryl Kriener), born April 16, 1964. They also had 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Louella was a doting wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother & great grandmother.    She always had a bright welcoming smile on her face when family stopped to visit.

Louella loved spending time with family and her grandchildren & great grandchildren, were her world!  She loved flowers, especially those in her favorite color, purple.  She had a fondness for cats and very much enjoyed her most recent pet, Tiger.   She loved her children’s horse, Camanche, who enjoyed drinking Coca Cola from a can and eating whole apricots, pausing to spit out the seed, only.   Louella enjoyed collecting Beanie Babies, with one of her favorites, a purple bear named for Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales.  She also enjoyed collecting bells.

Louella was an excellent cook, winning a homemaker award in high school.  She enjoyed baking bread for her family, making this with her sisters was always a good time.

Her children loved her homemade potato dumplings with beef and gravy, and this recipe is now carried on by her son and daughter for a great dinner on a cold night.  Her family loved her delicious homemade Norwegian Lefse and homemade cinnamon rolls.  They also enjoyed her potato pancakes for good homemade family meal.

Louella was a member of Salem United Church of Christ, rural Waukon, a 4-H leader and a member of the local “Birthday Club”.

Louella had two brothers, Melvin (Jaeridis), and Freddy, whom died at age 6, cause unknown.  She also had 2 sisters, Marie (Thomas Horan) and Ruth (James Perry).

She is survived by her husband, Dervin Ludeking, daughter Linda (Kevin Monroe) and son Jake (Cheryl).  Grandchildren Karen Monroe, Kristin (Mark Berns), Kody Monroe (Caitlyn). Kasey (Jake Brandt), Devin Ludeking (Bailey) and Conner Ludeking.  Great grandchildren, Mallory, Addison and Thomas Berns.  Summit and Blaire Brandt. Nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews and great, great nieces and nephews.

Her love will always be carried in their hearts.

Thank you, Mother!

Adapted from poem by Nicole J. Heath.

Thank you, Louella, (Mother) for all that you have done.

You took great care of your husband, daughter, son and grandchildren.

You loved us all from the very start with your warm, kind and loving heart.

Thank you, Mother, for being strong.  While trying to teach us right from wrong.

If anytime we had a problem, you were there to help us solve them.

You’d lift us up when we were feeling blue.

Thank you, Louella (Mother), for we could always count on you.

You were such and awesome wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother!

The love you showed was like no other.

Thank you for your dear, sweet love.

We know you will be watching over us, from heaven above.