Louise Volkman

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Louise Volkman, 96, who passed away peacefully of natural causes in her home surrounded by her family.

Louise was born on December 13, 1926, to Christian and Anna Hammer in Grenora, ND. When Louise was 6 years old, they moved to Fairview, MT where she attended school.  Upon graduating high school, Louise relocated to Great Falls, MT to attend beauty school, where she was introduced to her late husband Ray Volkman. They married on July 5, 1947. Together, Ray and Louise shared four children.

After raising her children, Louise opened her own beauty salon, La Boutique, and later went to work in the family salon, Volkman’s Hair Design, until her retirement in 1993.

Louise enjoyed sharing her many talents with her loved ones. Singing and dancing were favorite pastimes. In her younger years she could be found cutting a rug at the Missouri River Inn and the Mountain Palace. She loved to garden and was a member of the Dearborn Garden Club for many years. Her grandchildren will miss her homemade lefsa, cookies, pies, and corned beef and cabbage. Louise was also an avid quilter and made sure to make all of her grandchildren quilts for their high school graduations. She had a keen sense of humor that often came out in song.

Louise loved to visit, sharing stories of her life on the farm and her family. Louise was proud to be Norwegian, sharing songs and sayings spoken in Norwegian. She loved to share the story of her family homesteading, moving from ND to MT. It became such a passion that she decided to write a family tree and journal in 2019.

Louise is survived by her daughter, Theresa Williams; grandchildren, Lana Crawford, Jody Voegel, Nikea Miller, and John Voegel; great-grandchildren, Tanisha Stewart, Chantel Rojas, Phoenix Miller, and Reverie Miller; and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Volkman; son, John Volkman; daughters, Carol Volkman and Jill Voegel; and great-granddaughter, Amilia “Mimi” Langston.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests monetary contributions be made to the Dearborn Garden Club in memory of Louise Volkman.

Family and friends will gather this summer for a burial of ashes and a celebration of her life.  “You never know from where one sits where the fellow in the balcony is going to spit.” -Louise