Lena M. Gottsch was born at Denison, January 22, 1909, the daughter of Hans and Ida (Bohling) Thies. She was received into God's Kingdom of Grace through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism February 22, 1909, and confirmed in her Christian faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison May 5, 1925. She was raised at Denison where she received her formal education. On August 28, 1929, Lena was united in marriage with Rudolph Claudius Gottsch by the Rev. William Frese at the Zion Lutheran Parsonage in Denison. They made their home on the farm at Westside where their union was blessed with four children, Wilbur, Ruth, Marlene and Marvin.

Lena was a homemaker all of her life and enjoyed life on the farm especially working with their Brown Swiss dairy herd and her flower and vegetable gardens. In her spare time she enjoyed sewing and spending time with her family.

Rudolph died November 2, 1987, and Lena remained on the farm where in recent years she was lovingly cared for by her son, Wilbur.
Lena died Monday morning, July 11, 1994, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. At the time of her death she had attained the age of 85 years, 5 months and 19 days.

She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison and the American Legion Auxiliary and the Cemetery Auxiliary both at Westside.

Including her parents and husband, Lena was preceded in death by two granddaughters and two sisters, Sophie Thies and Marie Jacobsen.

Those who remain to cherish her memory include four children, Wilbur Gottsch of Westside, Ruth and her husband, Fritz Stultz of Dallas, Texas, Marlene and her husband, Dick Carmichael of Beaumont, California and Marvin Gottsch and his wife, Jennifer of Victorville, California, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Also surviving are nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 16, 1994, at Zion Luthern Church in Denison with the Rev. Kurt R. Kaiser and the Rev. Philip E. Bloch officiating. Music for the service was provided by Mr. Henry Henningsen singing "Abide With Me" and "Rock Of Ages" and the congregation singing "Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus". Karen Kahl served as organist for the services. Casket bearers included Orville Thiedeman, Loren Weller, Henry Ewoldt, Arlo Gottsch, Dale Gottsch and Rick Carmichael. Interment was in the Westside Cemetery at Westside. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements.