Louise Anna Oehler Pensis Sago, 97
Louise Sago passed away from congestive heart failure September 3, 2019, at the age of 97 at St. Luke’s Extended Care Facility. She was able to live in her home until the last four months of her long life.
Louise was born on July 31, 1922, in a one-room cabin in Billings, Montana, to Anna and Carl Oehler.
She was the first of their three children that included Joe and Mildred. Her father died of tuberculosis when she was three, and her mother then married Julis Repnak. Anna and Julis had five more siblings; Judy, Bill, Patricia, Johnny, and Charles.
Louise put herself through high school in Billings, Montana, by working as a nanny and housekeeper for a family. Afterward, during the Great Depression, she married Voiles Pensis and they had two children, a daughter, Dorothy, who died shortly after childbirth, and Virginia Mae, who now lives in Lockwood.
Voiles and Louise bought 40 acres from the Carter Oil Refinery in Lockwood and built a house from scrap lumber with their own hands and lived there for many years. However, after a long bout with ulcerative colitis, Voiles passed away in 1960.
Louise and Voiles helped John and Marjorie Sago start the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Lockwood. The couples had a close friendship and were very involved in their church. They experienced a deeply felt loss when Marjorie was killed in a car accident.
Since John and Louise were both widowed, they married in 1970 and Louise assumed responsibility for John’s six children; Virginia, Martin, Andy, Jim, Annetta and Thomas.
The couple worked hard throughout their lives and bought the A-1 Rentals store in Billings, Montana.
Louise was a bookkeeper for Yellowstone Beauty Supply, Kelly Services, Corcoran Trucking, and she used this skill to help make the rental successful.
This helped the couple fulfill their dreams to travel around the world, the U.S., and to build a home on Flathead Lake in Polson, Montana.
John and Louise were very committed to their church at Lakeview Baptist Church and to the Gideons International camp in Polson, Montana.
Louise is survived by her brother, Johnny Repnak, and sister, Pat Knutson. Her children, stepchildren and spouses include Virginia Bolstad, Virginia and Ralph Hooper, Martin and Nan Sago, Andy and Joyce Sago, Jim Sago, Annetta and Marty Spurlock, and Thomas and Naureen Sago.
A memorial service and interment of ashes in Polson are planned for a later date.
The family would like to thank the staff at St. Luke’s Extended Care Facility and would ask that any memorial donations be sent to the Gideons International, PO Box 207, Polson, MT 59860.