Louise Emily Reitz, 87, passed away at the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House in Kennewick on January 9, 2015. She was born in St. Lawrence, South Dakota, on January 29, 1927 to John and Anna Hash, the fourth of seven children. She lived in South Dakota for seven years, before the family moved to Coleridge, Nebraska. In 1944 she graduated from Hartington High School, passed the teacher's exam, and began her teaching career at age 17 in a one-room schoolhouse near Hartington, Nebraska. Louise received a two-year degree from Wayne State College in Nebraska in 1947. Louise moved to Idaho in 1950 and continued teaching elementary school in Twin Falls and American Falls. During this time, she completed her Bachelor's degree from Idaho State University and spent summers working on a Master's Degree from University of Northern Colorado. Louise married Theodore Reitz on November 7, 1957 in Hermiston, Oregon. They moved to Pasco where Louise taught at Emerson Elementary School. She was a substitute teacher around the Tri-City area for many years, retiring in 1988. Louise enjoyed traveling and attending family reunions. Before Louise married, she enjoyed summers vacationing with her aunt and family, and spent a summer touring the East coast. Later there were family road trips to Nebraska and California. After retiring, Louise and Ted enjoyed trips to Hawaii, the southern states, and cruises to the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. Louise enjoyed sewing and spent many hours creating clothing, curtains, costumes, and toys. She also had an interest in plants and flowers and enjoyed gardening and canning. Louise was preceded in death by her husband Theodore, and siblings Thelma, Johnnie, Bill, and Lisle. Louise is survived by her siblings Orlando (Herdis) Hash and Gretchen Arlene Luna; sisters-in-law Arlene, Virginia, and Marilyn; children Margot (Miroslaw) Zychla, Ben (Jeanne) Reitz, Nila Reitz (Devin Smith), and Lloyd (Kristin) Reitz. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Steven, Samantha, Laura, Preston, and Alec. The family would like to thank Dr. Hales, Hawthorne Court, and the Chaplaincy Hospice House staff for Louise's care and support. Louise was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church for thirty years. A funeral service will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2505 W. 27th Ave. Kennewick, WA on Monday, January 19th at 10:00 am. There will be a luncheon following the funeral service at the church. The burial service will be in the afternoon at Gideon Lutheran Cemetery, Connell, WA. Memorial donations can be made to Bethlehem Church/School, 2505 W. 27th Ave, Kennewick, WA 99337.