Louise Lavon Manning was born March 2, 1929 in Ree Heights, South Dakota to Paula and Nola Blaseg.  As a young child she and her sister Bonnie lived with their grandparents because their father had a construction company and was gone a lot of the time. Come World War II they were living in Alder, Montana.  With all the guys going to war there was no one to work for her father.  At the age of 11 she was taught to operate a DC Caterpillar, also known as a bull dozer. One day while she was at work a man working for Life Magazine saw her and took a photo that ended up in Life magazine.

While living in Alder she went to high school in Sheridan, Montana where she excelled in sports. She played basketball and ran track, where she won numerous awards. Can't you just envision those short legs burning up the track? That is probably where she got the nickname "Squeak".

At 18 years old, she married the love of her life, Donald Manning, on April 6, 1946 by eloping to Bozeman.  They had two sons, Robert in 1947 and Donald J in 1953.  Louise worked as a waitress for many years in Butte and Drummond, Montana.  While in Drummond her husband passed in December of 1988.  Eventually she moved to Helena, where son Robert introduced her to Jimmy Trankel.  The two of them took day trips and went to Hawaii and the Kentucky Derby.  They went to parades and on cruises.  They had a wonderful time before his passing.

Robert purchased a Cavapoo *Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Miniature Poodle) as an emotional support puppy for her.  She named him Toby, but called him "Baby Dog".  He would sit by her side in the recliner for hours at a time.  Toby like to take Kleenex from her pockets and she had a few more new names for him.  She loved him dearly, especially his frequent kisses.

She was loved by everyone she came into contact with. She lived with her loving son Robert for the past 3.5 years before her passing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister and her husband. Her youngest son Donald J died in an auto accident in 1998.