Becoming Louise: A Journey in Life & Love
WrittenbyAmyBlumShesatinherlawnchairatthecul-de-sacpicnicandrealizedsomethingnew.Manyofherneighborsandfriendsnolongerknewher. Withoutherbright,involvedmannerismsandsharp,thoughtfulmind, peopledidn’tseemtoknowhowtointeractorvisit.Wasthisalife withAlzheimer’s,orwasshesimplyonanewlegofthejourneyto “BecomingLouise”?
Theanswer,perhaps,liesinacomplicatedmixofbothquestions beingtrue.
LouiseMutschgrewuplikemostofherruralMidwesterncohorts borninthemid-1940s.Herparents,DorotheaandRalph,werehardworkingfarmersinruralFaulkCounty.ShecamefromstrongGerman heritagethankstohergreat-greatgrandparentsimmigratingto America.LouiseandherbrotherDennis,whoisthreeyearsolder, attendedaone-roomcountryschoolbeforetransitioningtohigh schoolinFaulkton,SouthDakota.
SimpledaysofLouise’syouthwerefilledwithlongbikerides,playing withafavoritelittlesetofdishes,anddreamingofallthefunthings shewishestobuywhileperusinghergrandma’scatalogs.Evenlong SouthDakotawintersholdfunmemoriesforLouiseasshefondly recallsplayinginthesnowuntilsnowballfightsensued.
Upongraduation,Louisegavehighereducationatrybeforerealizing moreschoolwasn’tforher.
Withthat,sheenteredthejobforce.
“Youknow,Idon’tblamemymotherfornotsettingmedownand talkingtomeaboutmyoptions,”Louiserecalls.“Shedidthebestshe knewhow,andsheraisedmetobestrongandresourceful.Those qualitieshaveservedmewellthroughoutmylife.”
YoungestdaughterCamiadds,“Mymotherisincrediblysmart, somethingshehasahardtimeseeinginherself.Gradesanddegrees
Highlights to Remember:
Born September 2, 1946 in Minnesota, her father’s native state.
Grew up near Faulkton, South Dakota in the home her grandfather built.
Raised by parents Dorothea & Ralph Mutsch, along with older brother Dennis, simply and with love.
Married Craig Johnson on September 27, 1986. They share Louise’s daughters Stephanie & Cami.
Loves five grandchildren: Nathan, Morgan, Carli, Lily, and Maggie.
Remained a resolute, determined, strong woman of faith, grace, and humor.
Shared a final smooch with Craig on December 9, 2022.
Died December 14, 2022 in Touchmark at All Saints, Sioux Falls.
Laid to rest December 20, 2022 in Sioux Falls.
Stephanie, Louise, and Cami share a lifetime of cherished memories, special stories, and life lessons.
“I have always admired Louise’s strength, poise, and dedication to friendship.” ~Rose Steffen
donotequalintelligence.Navigatinglife’sdifficultsituationswithgrace andalevelheadarefarmoretellingofaperson.”
Tothisday,Louisecherishesthesoundofhermother’sbeautifulsinging voiceandrecallsthedeliciousflavorofhermother’swonderfulpies.A sliceofpiewithadollopoficecreamremainsoneofLouise’smost favoritetreats.
Louiseandherfirsthusbandbuiltalifeandraisedtwobeautifuldaughters,StephanieandCamiSchroeder.Thoughtheirmarriagewasn’tmeant tolast,thefamilyLouisecreatedwiththeirgirlsbecameonetostandthe testoftime.Followingthedivorce,LouiseandhergirlsmovedtoSioux Falls.Withthesamestrengthandresourcefulnessshe’dbeenraised,the singlemotherfoundajob(oftentwo),ahouse,andmovedforward.
“ImetLouisein1980.Wewerebothrecentlydivorcedsinglemoms,and soonbecamebestfriendsformanyreasons.In41yearsoffriendshipand througheachofourlives’manychanges,we’veremainedpartofeach other’ssupportsystem,”sharesRoseSteffen.“LouiseandIshareastrong faith,andIhavealwaysadmiredherstrength,poise,anddedicationto friendship.Herstrongpersonalitywasneverafraidtoletmeknowwhen shedisapprovedofmychoice,butshesupportedmenomatterwhat.”
Duringthistime,Louisealsotransformedherselffromclericalstaffto businessowner.ShejoinedHomeInteriorswithhopesofearningsome extraincome.Then,sherealizedhereyefordesignandtalentforlistening.Herflexiblesecondjobeventuallygrewtoarewardingcareer.
“Ienjoyedmeetingandhelpingotherwomen,”Louisesays.“Iwaseven abletohelpotherwomenstarttheirownbusinesses.HomeInteriors wasn’tpartofmylifeforalongtime,butitwasalucrative,purposeful timeinmylife.”
StephanieandCamirecallamotherwhosacrificedandworkedhardyet neveroverlookedthespecialnessofafamilymeal,freshlybakedtreats,or sharingwithothers.
“Evenwhenwebarelyhadmoneytopayourownbills,Momfoundaway
togive,”Stephaniesays.“Icanrecallputtingloosechangeoradollarbill inthechurchbasket,buttherewasalwayssomething.Mymomshared withothersthroughherloveofbakingandcooking,too.”
Bothgirlssaytheirmother’spassionforbakingengrainedasenseof prideinthem,too.Evenwhentheyhadsolittlegive,Louisecouldbe countedonforafreshbatchofcookiesforclassmates,breadsfornew neighbors,orgoodiesforabakesale.Herfaith,generosity,andheart flavoredeverythingthatleftherkitchen.
Tosaylifewaseasyorsimpleistoignoretherealityofbeingasingle, workingwomanwithtwoteenagedaughtersinalargeandgrowingcity. Yet,todwellonthedifficultyofitall,istooverlookLouise’sdeterminationtochoosehappynomatterthesituation.
Infact,herdeterminationtomovethroughchallengingtimeswithmore graceandsmilesthanbitternessandtearsspeaksvolumestothejourney Louisewoulduncover.
Afteryearsofhardship includingthedeathofherbelovedfatherin 1980 Louisewoulddiscoveroneofherlife’sgreatestjoys.
“IliketothinkI’llneverforgetmeetingCraig,”sheshareswithmistyeyes. “MyfriendRoseandIhadgoneoutforanevening.Shehadafulldance card,butCraigsawme.Heaskedmetodance,andafteronlyonedance,I knewwehadfoundsomethingspecial.HeleftforatriptoAlaskaand calledmeforadatewhenhereturned.Weclicked,andalltheseyears later,westilldo.”
ThegirlsandRoseallagree.CraigmakesLouisehappy,andthoughshe can’tcarryatuneorkeeptimetoabeat,Craigisblessedwithboth talents.Hebringsaspecialsongtoherlife,oneonlythetwoofthemcan hearbuteveryonecansee.
“Momhasalwayslovedtosinganddance;Ilovethat’showsheandCraig met,”Stephaniesays.“Likehersingingthough,herdancingdoesn’t
Louise & Craig will celebrate 35 years of marriage on September 27, 2021.“I like to think I’ll never forget meeting Craig. We clicked, and all these years later, we still do.”
~Louise Johnson
alwayshitthebeat,butyoucanstillseehowmuchpleasuremusicand dancebringher.”
Camiadds,“Eventoday,whenMom’sreallyhappy,shebreaksoutina dance.Hermoodisinfectious!”
CraigandLouiseknewtheywantedtobemarriedandtalkedaboutit often,buthisfirstproposalstruckLouiseastoosoon.Shedeclined.The second,however,cameinGod’sperfecttimingandfeltjustright.Craig andLouiseweremarriedonSeptember27,1986.Theyenjoyedwatching thegirlsgrowup firstwithhighschoolandcollegegraduations,then withgrowingcareersintheTwinCities,thenwithmarriagesandchildren oftheirown.Sharinglifeandlovewiththeirfivegrandchildrenbecamea centralpartofCraig&Louise’sfulllives.
BecauseCraig&Louisebelievedferventlyintimewithfamily,their grandkidsgrewupsurroundedbyexperienceswithGrandmaJand Grandpa.Eachgrandchildhasmemoriesandfavoritesuniquelytheirs whileallrejoicinginahostofsharedfavorites.Bakingpies,gardening, enjoyingtreatsatB&GMilkyWay,diningattheirfavoriteChinese restaurant,thememoriestheysharehaveaddedtothechildren’sstrong foundationinlife.
OldestgrandsonNathanevencreditsGrandmaJwithmakingthebest scrambledeggsandintroducinghimtocornbakecasserole,which remainshisfavorite.
Thefaith-filledcouplealsovolunteeredcountlesshourstotheirchurch, St.Therese,andtochildreninneedthroughouttheSiouxFalls community.Children’sHomeSocietyandacommunitymentoring programforelementarychildrenremainespeciallyclosetoLouise’s heart.Louise’scalm,butfirm,naturemadeherafavoritevolunteer.
DaughterStephaniesays,“Momwouldtellyouallofhermanyvolunteer experiencesgaveherwaymorethanshegavethem.Shetaughtusgirlsto begratefulforwhatwehadnomatterhowlittlewethoughtthatwas,and shemodeledgratitudeandcharityinallshedid.”
Louise & Craig cherish spending time with their daughters, sonsin-law, and grandchildren.“Mom modeled gratitude and charity in all she did.”
~ Stephanie Lindberg
Lifewasn’twithouttrials,ofcourse,butitwasgoodandfullandrichwith manyblessings.
Now,asmothersthemselves,thegirlslookbackontheirchildhoodand realizeallthesacrificesLouisemadeinordertobepresentforthem.
“Mymomhadthisamazingwayofmakingusgirlsfeellikewecoulddo anything,andweweregoingtobeoknomatterwhat,”Camirecalls.“I willprobablyneverknowallthesacrificesshemadeforusgirls,butIam foreverthankful.”
Whilethegirlsknowtheirmomisquitehuman,theysaythey’realso quiteinaweofallthelessonsandexamplessheimpartedwiththem. Theycherishchildhoodmemoriesfulloflaughter,perfectlytimed“Ilove yous”andhugs,plussomuchmore.
“IespeciallyloveMom’shumor.Shehasalwaysbeenabletolaughat herself,whichissuchagreatquality,”Stephanieshares.
“Asakid,IrememberMomreapplyingherlipstickOFTEN.Really,going intothegrocerystore,afterameal,beforeheadingoutforawalk lipstickwashersignature.Iaskedheraboutitonceandshesimplysaid, ‘Well,youneverknowwhoyoumightmeetalongtheway.’Shelaughed whenshesaiditbecauseIthinkitwasoneofthosethingsshewasjust taughttodo alwaysbeandlookyourbest,andshewasn’tworried aboutotherpeoplepokingfunatherforit.”
LouiseretiredfromherworkatJosephine’s,afloralgiftshop,in2013and increasedhertimespentvolunteering.Shecontinuedhereffortsatselfcarethroughexercise,Biblestudy,andhealthyeating.WhenCraigjoined herinretirementonJuly1,2015,theactivecouplelookedforwardto goldenyearsoftraveling,vacationing,andspendingtimewithlovedones.
ThatbeautifulplanstayedtrueuntilMarch2016.Then,theplanbecame oneofirrevocablemodification.Fatefully,thatisalsotheyearGabecame tojoinCraig&Louise’sfamily.
Louise shares a special bond with each of her daughters.
“One of Mom’s many beauties is her simplicity. Yet, she’s the hardest working woman I’ve ever met.”
~Cami Drahn
“
~Louise Johnson
“Gabeisabeagle/CavalierKingCharlesSpaniel;hewasdeliveredatseven weeksoldwhileIwasgonehunting,”Craigrecalls.“HeandLouisehave goneroundssincehejoinedus,butthatlittledoglovesher,andsheloves him.Theyreallyarequiteapair.”
OneofCraig’sfavoritestoriesisthetimeLouiselostGabe.
“ItwasdayfourofGabejoiningourfamily,andIwasoutoftownhunting. AllwaswelluntilLouisecouldn’tfindhim.Louiselookedandlooked.She calledaneighbor,andtheycanvassedthehouseandourneighborhood searching,”Craigsaysashestartstochuckle.“Then,astheywerereadyto callitquits,LouisewalkedintousethebathroomanddiscoveredGabe curledupinoneofherfuzzypinkslipperssoundasleep!Iwas‘ordered’ hometodealwithhim!”
Louiseoftentoldpeopleto“Smileuntilyoumeanit”,whichisaphrase sheabidesbyaswell.Craigrecallssharinghiswife’sadvicewithacoworkerwholaterfoundCraigtolethimknowwhatapositiveimpact Louise’sadvicehasonhislife.
“Mom’spatience,positivity,andfaitharereallysecondtonone,” Stephaniesays.
Camiechoes,“Mymother’sfaithinGodisendless,andshehasnever takenherblessingsforgranted.Herconstantdevotionanddedicationto prayerareincrediblyinspiringtome.”
ThosetraitsserveLouisewell,especiallyashealthchallengesarosenot longafterCraig’sretirement.
AfterasignificantfallinAugust2015,Louisebrokebothwrists.The healingprocesswasCraig&Louise’sfirstglimpseintotherolesthey wouldonedayplay,andintheirtypicalstyle,theyplayedthecardsdealt andwentonliving.
GivenLouise’sseriousfall,sheunderwentanMRItoruleoutany possibilityofasevereconcussionbeforeundergoingstandardcataract surgery.Alllookedwellenoughtoproceed,butCraigknewsomething
Gabe, a beagle/Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, joined Craig & Louise in 2016.Smile until you mean it.”
wasoffduringtheassessment.Lifekeptmovingthough,andtheJohnsons movedforwardwithit.
Then,byJune2017,thecouplelearnedCraig’ssuspicionswereofficially truewhenLouise,atonlyage71,wasalsodiagnosedwithAlzheimer’s. Notlongafter,Louisereceivedabreastcancerdiagnosis.Giventhe Alzheimer’s,CraigandLouisechosetopassonchemotherapyinhopesof avoidingchemobrain,whichwouldhavemadeanalreadydifficult journeymoreso.
“Therewasalotofgrief,alotofangeratfirst,”Louisesays.“Wehad plans.Wehadthingstodo.But,attitudeisachoice.Iconsidermyselfan upbeatpersonwhosmilesalot,andIdecidedIhadtoget‘me’back.I couldn’tstayangryandhurt.”
WhenLouisebecameoneofAmerica’smorethanfivemillionresidents diagnosedwithAlzheimer’s 17,000ofwhomcallSouthDakotahome Craigjoinedtheranksof16millionAmericancaretakerswhoprovidean estimated18.6billionhoursofunpaidcareatavalueofnearly$244 billionannually.
Thecoupleresearched,tendedtotheirpersonalaffairs,andjoined supportgroups.Theycried.Theygotangry.Theygrieved.Then,they movedforwardandgotbacktoliving.
“OneofthebiggestthingsItookfrommyfirstcaretakergroupmeeting wastotakeitasitcomes.Youcan’tlookorworrytoofarintothefuture,” Craigshares.“Wedon’talwaysgetlivingwithAlzheimer’sright,butwe haven’tstoppedliving.”
Craig&Louisehavespentthepastfouryearstravelingastheyareable forbothtimewithfamilyandvacationtimewitheachother.Theyhave alsospentsignificanttimegrowingtheirfaithandcherishingtheir friendshipswithothers.
Whilethecouplehasbeenblessedwithsupportivefamilyandhelpfrom manyfriends,especiallywithintheirchurch,theyhavebeenabundantly
Craig & Louise count trips to Alaska and New Zealand among their most special travels. “Attitude is a choice.”
~Louise Johnson
Louise as a schoolgirl in 1955 would grow to become Louise as a beloved wife, mother, mentor, and friend.
blessedbytheloveandsupportfromLouise’slifetimebestieRoseand belovedfriendJudi.
RosewasbyLouise’ssideevenbeforeCraigenteredthepicture.Thetwo builtasisterhoodthattranscendeddistanceandlife’smanyseasons, certainlynosmallfeatintoday’sfleetingculture.Theyshareabond rootedinasharedfaithandbuiltfromcompassion,understanding,and thepurestkindoflove thekindoflovethatquietlycutsfoodorguide footsteps,thekindoflovethatremainsconstantevenwhenmemories fade,thekindoflovethatbecomesalifelinetothosewhoexistedbefore andthosewhohaveyettobecome.
Rose’spresenceinLouise’sjourney,andthusCraig’slife,isn’tsomething thecoupletakeslightlyorforgranted.
“Rosehasbeenconnectedtousforallofour34years,”Louisesays.“Iam sogratefulforherinthislifebecause,youknow,itisn’talwaysaboutthe disease.Itreallyisaboutrelationshipsandtryingtochoosehappiness.”
“I am so blessed to have him [Craig] loving and guiding me through all the stages of my life.”
~Louise Johnson
Louise’sdearfriendJudiplaysanequallyimportantroleinherstoryas thefriendscontinuetosharetimeeachWednesday.
Whiledevotedbestfriendsareicing,adevotedhusbandandcaring childrenarethecakeuponwhichit’spoured.Louise’sadorationand appreciationforCraigshinebrightlyinhercherishedmomentsofclarity.
“Icouldn’tdoanythingwithoutCraig.Notallmencouldbeacaretakerin thewayCraighasbeen.No,heisn’tperfect,butneitheramI.Iamso blessedtohavehimlovingandguidingmethroughallthestagesofmy life,”Louisesays.
LifehasbeenfullandblessedinthenearlyfouryearssinceLouise’s diagnosis;yet,theharshrealitiesofAlzheimer’sterminalnaturecan’tand shouldn’tbeignored.
Louiseknowstherewillcomeatimewhenthewife,friend,andmother sheoncewasexistsonlyinthemindsofthosewholoveher.Sheisaware ofthegrowinglonelinessandisolationdebilitatingher,butshealso
knowstheunrelenting,non-discriminatorydiseaseoddlyshieldsher frombeingawareofthegreatesttrials.
Asshethinksaboutherdaughters,Louisebeams.Shecherishesthemas “gooddaughters,verycaringwomen”whoaregivinghertheloveshe needsforthenextlegofherjourney.Sheknowstheyarestrongwomen andlovingmotherswhowillguidetheirchildrenandfamiliesinallthat liesahead.
LouisealsoknowsherbelovedCraigistheonewhocarriesthegreatest burdenasthediseaseprogresses.
“Wearen’tperfect,andIoftenfeellikeIaskfartoomuchofhim,”Louise sharesinmultipleconversations.“Wehaveagreedtotryourbestevery day.Putasmileonourfacesandloveourfamily.Iknowthere’sgoingto beatimewhenIcan’tholdupmyendoftheagreement,butIwillforas longasIcan.”
AsLouiseoncereflectedonherjourney,shesaid:
“Yes,Ihaveastoryandstoriesareimportant,butIhopeotherscanfind somekindofinspirationtoholdontotheirsenseofselfforaslongas possible.FriendsandfamilywholovethoseofuswithAlzheimer’shelp keepusconnectedtoourselves,toourlives.Itisalottoaskofothers,but Ididn’tstopbeingLouisewhenAlzheimer’scamearound.Thepeople whostayedinmylifeandshoweduphelpedmemorethanIwilleverbe abletotellthem.Ijusthopeotherpeoplegettoexperiencethatsamekind ofloveandsupport.”
Louise’s faith has been tested but remains strong and steady.
’
”
~ Louise Johnson
“Friends and family who love those of us with Alzheimer
s help keep us connected to ourselves, to our lives.
Postscript July 13, 2022
Louise’sstorypublishedinblackandwhiteonMay28,2021;however,herstorycontinues.
Overthepastyear,CraigandLouisemadememoriesandfoundjoyintheirlifetogether.Asitdoes,however, Alzheimer’sdiseasestrengthenedthegriponLouise’sbody.Shenowsleepsoften.Herlegstrengthdeterioratesrapidly,andherawarenessofthepresentdims.
Longtalksandbigdecisionswerehandledtogetheryearsago.ConversationscontinueopenasCraigtakes greatcaretoensurehisbelovedisincludedinherlife.Therealityofcarryingoutthosedecisionsfallssquarely onCraig’sshoulders.
Afternearly36yearstogetherunderoneroof,LouisewillmovetothebeautifulTouchmarkatAllSaintsin SiouxFallsonMonday,July18.Herstudioapartmentinthecommunity’sMemoryCareNeighborhoodwillbe anadjustmenttostatetheobvious,buttheadjustmentcomeswithgreatpeace.LikeshehasbeenwithCraig, Louisewillbeprovidedexcellent,round-the-clockcareinallthewayssheneeds.Thefullsocialandactivity calendarCraigtookthoughtfulcaretoorganizeforLouisewillcontinueundertheTouchmarkroof.
AndCraig?Hewillgrievethisstage.Hewillhurtinthisstage.Hewillagaindiscoverhimselfinthisstage,and likehehaseverystepoftheway,hewillgrowsteadfastinhisfaithandinpartnershipwithhischerished brideLouise.
Postscript December 14, 2022
AlmostfivemonthsaftermovingtoTouchmark,Louise’sfinalchapterclosedasherbelovedCraigheldher hand.Alzheimer’srobbedthecoupleofplansandtime,butherheartneverforgotthelovetheyshared.
OnFriday,December9,LouisepuckereduptogiveCraigafinalkissasheleftforthenight.Cami,Stephanie, andCraigspenttheweekendwithher.
AshospicestaffkeptLouisecomfortable,Craigkepthercompany.UponhisarrivalWednesdaymorning, whichwasearlierthannormalthankstoGabe’sprompting,CraigwastoldLouise’stimewasshort.Hehadno wayofknowingthenexactlyhowshort;however,itseemsLouisewaswaitingforhisreturn.Shortlyafter makingittoherbedside,LouisedrewherlastbreathsandpassedawayasCraigheldherhand.
LikeLouiseknew,theburdenofgrieffellsquarelyonCraig’sshoulders.Now,he,thegirls,andtheirfamilies arelefttofindinspirationinLouise’sstorywhiletheycontinuelivingtheirownchapterswithouther.Louise waslaidtorestinSiouxFallsonTuesday,December20,2022.MemorialstoSt.ThereseCatholicChurchorthe SiouxFallsChapterofAlzheimer’sFoundationweresuggested.