Louise Howarth Tochterman

At the age of 18, Louise joined the Air Force where she served as a Flight Traffic Specialist on DC-10s until she was selected for Officer Candidate School. She received a Commission in the USAF in 1959 and while assigned to Keesler AFB, the newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant met the love of her life, Lieutenant Theodore (Ted) Tochterman. They married in June of 1960. Ted and Louise became the first married couple to attend Squadron Officer School together. Following assignments at Kessler AFB and Scott AFB, Ted and Louise accepted assignments to Rhein Mein, AB Germany. Louise was promoted to Captain in Dec of 1963. Ted and Louise traveled extensively throughout Europe during their time there. Louise was honorably discharged from the USAF in 1965 prior to the arrival of her first child.

Louise, Ted and Tiffany returned to the states in 1966. Louise lived in Arizona with Tiffany and second daughter, Tara, while Ted served in Vietnam until 1968. The family then relocated to Bellevue, WA which became their home for the next 47 years. In 1973, Louise and three business partners opened The Boarding House restaurant in Issaquah's Gilman Village, followed by the opening of The Boarding House in Kent/Bittersweet Restaurant in 1980. Louise retired from the restaurant industry in 2003. Louise and Ted spent the next decade traveling and enjoying their large community network of friends and family. In 2015, Louise and Ted moved from their Bellevue home to a condo in Tacoma where they enjoyed their new neighbors, museums, theater productions and Tacoma Yacht Club activities. Louise returned to Bellevue in 2019.

Louise will be deeply missed by her daughter Tiffany, and son-in-law Dave Harmon. Louise was preceded in death by Ted, her beloved husband of 57 years, youngest daughter Tara Lyn, her parents, siblings Ann, Barbara, Bobby, Catherine, Donald, Jimmy and Florence. Louise is survived by granddaughters Madison and Claire who cherished their fun times with Grammy. Louise is also survived by siblings Allan, David, Gordon, Jean, Stevie and Susan. Brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, neighbors, and friends remember Louise's love of life, good food, wine and travel. Numerous charitable organizations, her church and community clubs fondly remember Louise's generosity, enthusiasm and humor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Louise's name to First Congregational Church, Bellevue, Seattle Children's Hospital or The Camp Goodtimes Project.