Louise Thieszen

Louise (Dick) Thieszen, 92, of North Newton, KS peacefully passed away on February 22, 2025 following a brief illness. Louise was born on October 16, 1932, on Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada, to Anna (Toews) and Jacob Dick. At the age of 5, Louise’s family moved to mainland Ontario where she grew up on a farm as the second oldest of six children. 

Louise began a lifelong relationship with the classroom as a student in a one-room country school that she attended for her first eight grades. She went on to complete high school and then study at London Normal School in London, Ontario, to become a teacher. Her first teaching job was back in another one-room country school with 28 students. 

After teaching for six years, Louise came to the United States to attend Bethel College in North Newton, KS. She graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science. While at Bethel, she met Carl Thieszen on a blind date. They were married in 1962, and established their home in Ransom, KS where Louise taught second grade. 

In 1966 Louise and Carl grieved the loss of their first child, Roger, who was stillborn. Later they rejoiced in the adoption of Robert and Carol and the birth of daughter Sharon. 

In 1976 the family moved to Little River, KS where Louise and Carl continued their work in education and raised their family. Louise worked as a substitute teacher and a para-educator in special education with elementary and high school students in Little River and in Lyons, KS. 

In 1991, following retirement, Louise and Carl moved to North Newton, KS. where Louise was very involved in her community; volunteering for Bethel College, Bethel College Mennonite Church, Mennonite Central Committee, Offender Victim Ministries, Kaufman Museum, Ten Thousand Villages, and NMC Health. For 30 years, Louise was also involved with the BCMC Mission Quilters, where the group made many beautiful quilts for the MCC Relief Sale.

Louise was always active in her community churches; from her youth attending the United Mennonite Church in Leamington, through her later membership at Bethel College Mennonite Church. By teaching, hosting, volunteering, serving, and caring, all with a charitable heart, Louise made many friends and enriched her communities. She excelled as a mother, grandmother, wife, quilter, gardener, teacher, and baker extraordinaire.

She is survived by her son Robert Thieszen (JoAn Waltner) of Newton, KS and granddaughter Maura Thieszen of Overland Park, KS; daughter Carol Thieszen-Culp and grandsons Jordan and Carter Culp of Sheboygan, WI; and daughter Sharon Thieszen (Brian Willadsen) of Sheboygan, WI. She is also survived by her siblings Marion Wiebe of Leamington, ON, Willie Dick (Bev) of Abbotsford, BC, Harry Dick (Liz) of Leamington, ON, sisters-in-law Shirley Dick of Kingston, ON and Marlene Dick of Leamington, ON, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Carl Thieszen, their infant son Roger Thieszen, her parents, brothers Neil Dick and Walter Dick, and brother-in-law Lothar Wiebe.

Her memorial service will be on Saturday March 29, 2025, at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton, KS. The service will be at 11am with a light lunch following. 

Memorials in Louise’s name may be made to Mennonite Central Committee or Bethel College in care of Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main, Newton, KS 67114.