Louise Gelmers was born October 5, 1930 at Ruby Hospital in Ponca City, the daughter of Luther and Henrietta Ferguson. She grew up on the family farm north west of Ponca City until 1942 when they moved to Ponca City. She attended elementary school at Fairview District 57. She finished her education in the Ponca City Public School System graduating from Po-Hi in 1948. She attended St. John’s Lutheran College in Winfield, KS. She married the love of her life, A. Lloyd Gelmers, on August 12, 1951 at First Lutheran Church in Ponca City. Louise and Lloyd had three children, Christy, Andy and Julie.