Louis Joseph Wettstein
Louis Joseph Wettstein, 89, passed away of natural causes Saturday, June 22, 2002, in his home near Ontario, Ore.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. today, Tuesday, June 25, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 661 S.W. 12th St., Ontario. Burial will follow at Rosedale Gardens in Payette, Idaho. Friends may call today one hour prior to the service at the church.
Louis was born Jan. 3, 1913, in Daniels, Idaho, to Daniel and Lina Ruegseggar Wettstein. He attended Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah. He married Mildred Rose Putnam in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on May 15, 1934, and they made their home Woodruff, Utah, where he worked on a cattle ranch for Deseret Livestock. In 1941, they moved to Woods Cross, Utah, where Louis farmed and worked for an oil refinery.
In 1946 they bought the family farm near Ontario and moved to Oregon. Louis was actively involved in the dairy and row crop operation with his five sons and son-in-law. He was civic-minded and served in many capacities in local and state organizations. He was president of the Oregon Holstein Association, Malheur County Dairy Association, Malheur County Holstein Association, and served on the Oregon State Cattle Health Board. He was a Malheur County commissioner and served in various other capacities. Louis and Mildred served a full-time LDS mission to the Swiss Temple in Bern, Switzerland, from 1978-1979 and enjoyed being in the land from where his father had emigrated. He took a less active role in the farm after returning from Switzerland and became a sealer in the Boise Temple, serving for 14 years until his health prevented him from continuing. He was privileged to perform the temple marriages of eight of his grandchildren. He was always active in his church, serving as bishop, bishop's counselor, high councilman, stake young men's youth activity director, physical facilities representative, ward clerk, and temple sealer. Louis always expressed a love for his country, his church, and his family.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mildred; and three sons, Louis Melvin and his wife, Kay, Richard Daniel and his wife, Kay, and Mark Putnam and his wife, Kelly, all of Ontario; daughter, Maureen Thomas of Salem, Ore.; brother, Ray Wettstein of Bountiful, Utah; a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Wettstein, of Boise; a daughter-in-law, Nerri Fisher of Long Beach, Calif.; son-in-law, Thane and Colleen Thomas of Ontario; 24 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Kenneth in 1991, and John in 1999; a grandson, Lee Wettstein; and his 17 brothers and sisters.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ontario Third Ward Missionary Fund, c/o Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel, 2543 S.W. 4th Ave., Ontario, OR 97914.

Idaho Statesman, Tuesday, June 25, 2002 Local page 7