Edna Louise Ihli

Edna Louise Ihli, age 93, a longtime resident of Puyallup, WA died Monday, January 21, 2013 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. She was born July 26, 1919 in Concordia, Kansas the daughter of Norman Leslie and Martha Christine (Davidson) Lapo. She was one of ten children raised in the Concordia area. During World War II, Louise lived and worked in Los Angeles, CA where on April 16, 1943, she married her sweetheart, Bernard Ihli. He loved to buy and affix fragrant gardenias to her long, beautiful strawberry blonde hair. Returning to Kansas after the war, Louise continued being a full time homemaker. In 1956, the Ihli family moved to a farm outside Ephrata, WA. Louise’s life was filled with raising her family, farming to include huge gardens, and spending family recreational time fishing. At age 42, she attended a Billy Graham Crusade, where she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Since then, she was active in her strong Christian faith among family and friends. One of her missions included sharing an individual copy of Rich Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life” with each of her children and grandchildren. Survivors include brother, Dr. Charles Lapo of Lincoln Park, MN; sister, Darlene Lapo Lewis of Concordia, KS; sons Ronnie of Ephrata, WA and Dennis of Madera, CA; Daughter, Linda Ihli Stearns and husband Michael of Puyallup, WA; 12 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. Inurnment will be in the Woodbine Cemetery, Puyallup, WA. One of her last desires was that ALL of her children and grandchildren would not only know Jesus, but also love one another dearly.