Obituary of Louise Zelda Pietila

Louise Zelda Pietila (Karr, nee:Thurston)

Louise was born Nov. 6,1931 in Alsask, Saskatchewan, the youngest of five children born to Arnold and Ruby Thurston. She joined her siblings, Marian, Perry, Victor and Florence. The Thurston family lived on their farm near Acadia Valley until 1933, when they moved to Benton Alberta . There, the family managed the local post office and general store becoming an important part of the small community.

Louise attended school in Benton through grade 9 and Oyen High School, living in the dormitory. In 1951, she left for Nursing School at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary. Louise completed her training and worked in Raymond (AB), Port Alberni (BC) and Kindersley (Sask) over the next few years.

In 1955, Louise returned to Benton and married Bill Karr. Bill and Louise took up the farm life on the original Karr (Ray & Faith) farm at Acadia Valley.  Farm life kept them busy with cows, pigs, chickens and grain farming and a garden.  The children were all born in the Empress Hospital, Bonny (1956), Lynn (1957), Barry (1958) and Dale (1960).  Louise helped support the family by working nights on a part-time basis at the Empress Hospital.

In 1967, the family moved to Cereal (AB).  Bill continued to work “Karr’s Construction” and Louise returned to nursing fulltime at the Cereal Hospital.  Bill and Louise loved spending time in the outdoors and travel.  They went on numerous fishing trips, traveled to family reunions at Morin Bridge and Donalda, Oregon and Iowa and a holiday to New Zealand.  What began as a holiday to Arizona in 1978, became the annual winter away for the next 30 years.  It was here Louise discovered a love for painting, creating beautiful sceneries, flowers, birds, wild life and family pet portraits.

The family faced many life challenges through the years, including Louise’s successful battle with breast cancer in 1978, the loss of son, Barry in a car accident in Oct ’83. Husband, Bill passed away in Aug '90 after a lengthy illness.  Son, Dale passed away in Feb ’92, losing a battle to cancer.

Louise moved from Cereal to Stettler in ’92, where she took up a part-time position at Lous’ Fashion.  She settled into a new community making many new friends and spent time with sister Marian and family at Donalda.  In ’93 Louise married Bob Pietila, a neighbor from the AZ RV park. Arizona continued to be their winter home (until Bob’s passing in 2009) and Aurora, MN their summer home.  The summers were filled with gardening, painting, fishing at the hunting shack and traveling to visit family and friends in Alberta.

Travel has always been Louise’s passion, and with her good friend Jean Wheaton, has managed to visit many beautiful places like Ottawa, Quebec City, Hawaii, Maryland and Victoria.  In 2012 Louise travelled with niece Velma (& Terry) Pearen and sister Florence to Ontario, for a Thurston reunion, which included a side trip to Niagara Falls.

In May 2010, Louise returned to Alberta, making the Oyen Lodge her home.  Louise quickly got reacquainted with old friends from Acadia Valley, Oyen, Cereal and Hanna.  Louise continued to find enjoyment in her painting, attending Jam sessions and volunteering at the Oyen Extended Care. 

In May 2023, Louise moved to Calgary, to be closer to immediate family.  She resided in Royal Park (Chartwell) Sr Residence, then Edgemont Sr Residents and lastly at Cambridge Manor (May-Aug’26). A move to the big city proved difficult for Louise, as everything was so BIG, she missed the small town and the many friends.  Louise enjoyed family and grand-dog visits and all the live music events in the care facilities.

Family left to Mourn:  Children: Bonny (Edward) Pratt, Lynn (Gary) Ortwein: Grandchildren: Trina Karr, Andrea (David) Sannes, Lyle Ortwin, Annalisa Ortwein, Reagan Ortwein: Great grandchildren: Emery and Bennett Sannes, Clayton Hall. Extended Family: Marilyn Oseland, Cory (Nina) Oseland, Elna Oseland, David (Dena) Pietila, Ken Pietila and numerous grandchildren and nieces and nephews.