Louisa grew up in the New Lots area of New York City and worked as a governess for a wealthy family in Brooklyn. She was 20 years old when her father decided to move the family to Sherman County, Nebraska, where they first lived in a dugout in the side of a hill. It must have been quite a culture shock for Louisa, but she was a strong woman, and after her marriage to Oscar, she worked very hard to help provide for their large family in some very hard times, keeping a cheerful disposition, as described by her daughter Eda:

"Mama was small, agile and had great endurance. She looked on the bright side of life regardless of much adversity. She did not burden us with her dark and suffering moments, of which she had plenty.
She always sang while working. The birds seemed to listen for her song and soon joined in the gay chorus. Dad said her voice was the sweetest of all. She played with us, hiding and jumping out at us. How we would laugh! What fun we had! To her wastefulness was a sin. Leftover food (which was seldom) was given to the birds or animals."

Her daughter Minnie recalled:
"After Carl passed away Dad built a new house. It had 5 bedrooms, 8 rooms in all. No bathroom, but we had a toilet out by the old house. We had a bathtub in the old house and used it in the summer time. We also did our laundry there. We were very proud of our new home. Dad & Mother loved to have many young folks around and we played all sorts of games." [Photo attached]
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Obituary from Sherman County Times September 9, 1942 Page 1:

Rites Held Monday for Mrs. O. G. Hanisch:
Rockville -- Louisa Sophia Dieterichs was born in New York City June 23, 1858, where she grew to young womanhood. In 1879 she migrated to Sherman County with her parents. On March 11, 1881 she was united in marriage to Oscar G. Hanisch. To this union 9 children were born: Gustave F. of Rockville, Edward C. of St. Paul, Viola H. Paulsen of Palmer, Louis E. of Omaha, Minnie H. Hankey of Council Bluffs, Ia, Millie H. Buss of Claremont, Minn, Eda H. Strom of Omaha, Beata H. Hibben of Omaha. Carl Hanisch preceeded her in death in 1904 as did her husband in 1933. Also surviving are her 23 grandchildren, 3 great-grand children and her sister Mrs. Henrietta Barrett.

Mrs. Hanisch was one of the pioneers of Sherman county enduring the hardships and privations of all the early settlers with zest and keen interest. Mr. and Mrs. Hanisch homesteaded 5 miles north of Rockville in 1881. They had the unique experience of living in a comfortable dugout for 5 years before they built their 3 room frame home. They moved to Rockville in 1892. This home Mrs. Hanisch loved, and considered it to be her real home the rest of her days. Mrs. Hanisch was a typical old-fashioned American mother whose absorbing and loving interest was her family and her home. Secondly came her neighbors and friends, and especially those in ill health or in distress. To her last days she maintained a lively interest in national and world affairs. She was by faith a Lutheran, living by example a true Christian life.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Evangelical Church with Rev. Marx having charge of the services. Dorothy and Edna Mae Marx sang 2 beautiful hymns with Mrs. Marx accompanist. Pall bearers were Jake Ritz, Pete Jensen, Art Strom, Fred Dunker, Sam Sorensen, Don McDonald.