Louise M. Mentele Biography


	This biography appears on page 1857 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	A photo of Louisa M. Mentele faces page 1856.


	LOUISE M. MENTELE.-Dr. Kroeger has a very able assistant in the 
person of Miss Mentele, concerning whose life we are permitted to 
incorporate the following data. She was born in Kaltbrunn, Baden, 
Germany, in the famous Black Forest district, on the 13th of May, 1873, 
being a daughter of Anton and Antonia (Heitzmann) Mentele. She received 
her early education in the excellent national schools of her native 
land and when she was nine years of age accompanied her parents on 
their immigration to America. The family first located in Halstead, 
Kansas, where she attended the English schools for some time, and in 
1881 removed with her parents to Dubuque, Iowa, where she continued her 
educational work in the Academy of the Sacred Heart. In 1883 the family 
came to South Dakota and took up their abode near Howard, Miner county, 
and here Miss Mentele continued to attend school until she had attained 
the age of sixteen years. In August, 1894, she came to Epiphany, where 
she became housekeeper for Rev. William Kroeger, M. D., being 
housekeeper for the three pastors previous for a short time, while 
through his kindly care and guidance she has since been advanced to a 
position of marked responsibility. She served for a time as his 
bookkeeper and stenographer, and under his direction then took up the 
study of medicine and anatomy, devoting special attention to cancerous 
and exterior tumors, or any diseases of that nature, and she is now the 
main and the only partner in the institution, hospital and business, to 
which work she gives her special time and at tension, being an expert 
in the operation and therapeutic utilization of the X-ray machine. She 
has the sympathy and capability which makes her a most grateful 
companion, doctor and nurse, and is held in affectionate regard by all 
who have come under her kindly ministrations and she has received her 
diploma with great honors from Rev. Dr. William Kroeger. She is a 
communicant of the Catholic church and deeply interested in its work in 
the local parish of Epiphany, South Dakota, and is always ready to give 
a helping hand and always fulfills the duties of the church.