Louise Eleanor Bronsch

BRONSCH, Louise Eleanor (Hookman) died Wednesday, October 8th, 2025, in Spokane, WA. She was the youngest daughter of Claude and Vera Hookham, born in Alliance, Nebraska, on January 24, 1938. Her parents were ranchers. The family moved to Springdale, MT in 1943, where her father was managing partner on a sheep ranch. The family bought a ranch south of Emigrant on the Yellowstone River in 1944, switching over to cattle ranching.

Attending a one room school house in her primary years with her sisters, Louise graduated from Park County High School in 1956 in Livingston, MT. As an adult, she studied first in Bozeman, MT, then transferred to Kinman Business College in Spokane, WA. After school she moved to live with her sister Charlotte in San Francisco, working as an administrative assistant with the Port Authority of San Francisco, CA.

She met her husband, Erwin Bronsch, through the Youth Hostel hiking club in the local area, and they married a year later on August 31, 1963. Their first son, Brad (Broderick Allan) was born in December of the following year in San Francisco and five months later they moved to Anchorage, AK where Erwin took a job as a civil engineer in construction of an airport in Noorvik out in "the bush" in the Arctic Circle. Louise worked for the USPS along with raising their son as Erwin was often away on site for work.

Growing up on a ranch Louise was adventurous and capable, often flying out on hunting, fishing and sight seeing excursions with her husband Erwin who had his pilot's license and had bought a small plane with floats, skis, and wheels.

The family moved to Monroe, WA in 1968 to be near Erwin's mother, Matilda, widowed that year when Erwin's father, Herman, passed away.

A second son, Bill (William Herman) was born in October of the same year and the family lived in Monroe until 1971, when the family of four moved to Quincy, WA after purchasing a farm of 160 irrigated acres. It was there that Louise and Erwin raised their children and made their home for the next 40 years.

On the farm, Louise managed the household, raised a large garden every year and worked at part-time and full-time jobs to make ends meet. She worked jobs primarily at the local schools and hospitals. She also volunteered in Quincy at the Habitat for Humanity thrift store, and elementary schools helping students with reading.

Louise and Erwin retired from the farm to lake life on Loon Lake in November 2012. In retirement they walked and kayaked at the lake, traveled with the senior centers in Spokane, visited Louise's sister, Arlis and many years wintered in Palm Springs with Erwin's sister, Marcia and brother-in-law, Don. She volunteered countless hours at the local libraries, first in Quincy and then in Loon Lake.

Louise loved her family, her parents and sisters and loved being around children, especially her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Erwin Bronsch, and two loving sons, Brad Bronsch (Jacki) and Bill Bronsch (Shelly), both of Spokane, WA and 6 grandchildren: Travis Raamot (Rachel) of Spokane, WA, Brianna Garrett (James) of Spokane, WA, Alicia Heyen of Radford, VA, Corbin Bronsch (Kerry) of Alexandria, VA, Chris Bronsch (Allie) of Spokane, WA, and Megan Bronsch of Spokane, WA, and four great-grandchildren, Hunter and Dahlia Raamot of Spokane, WA, Aubree Herzog and Elijah Garrett of Spokane Valley, WA.

She was preceded in death by her three sisters; Arlis Fisk, Marian Horvath, and Charlotte Ragsdale.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the Loon Lake Library from 1-3pm.