Louella Niswonger

Louella "Hokte Fvske" Niswonger age 82, passed away Friday, January 9, 2026 in the Special Care Unit of Eufaula Manor in Eufaula, Oklahoma. She was born January 19, 1943 in Eufaula, Oklahoma to Eleanor Brown Sulphur and Woodrow Wilson Sulphur, being the second of ten children.

Louella was of the Wotko Clan, member of the Mvskoke Nation and a fluent speaker of the Mvskoke language. She proudly spoke Mvskoke her whole life. Amazingly, even though she had dementia, she still remembered and spoke the Mvskoke language. Her sister spoke to her comforting last farewell and lovingly said goodbye to her in Mvskoke before she peacefully left this world.

As the eldest girl in the family she was the "boss" when the parents were away from the home. She kept all the siblings in line and made them behave. At times she would be strict, but fun to be around, telling funny jokes, scary stories, fun times helping us with school homework and reading great stories to the younger children. She chose not to have children because she said her siblings were enough caring for all. Louella never met a stranger, was always surrounded by friends. While she was in her early 30's she testified she had met and was saved by the Lord Jesus Christ.

In her early education years she attended country school at Mt View School. She was an avid reader and read all the books in that school's library. She attended Eufaula High School and was a 1961 graduate. She completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree at Northeastern State College, Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She took courses at East Central University, Oklahoma State University in Psychology and Counseling. At Stanford University she attended seminars in Counseling of Minors.

Louella's employment experience were for the State of Oklahoma Department of Health, State Department of Education as an Indian Ed Coordinator, as a Counselor with the Inter-Tribal Health Council in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She was a Special Services Counselor at Oklahoma State University. She was also a Consultant on Indian Affairs at University of North Dakota. In her spare time she was devoted to helping Natives of all ages who would seek her to assist with numerous types of forms, including Income Tax, explanation of legal and business letters, interpret for court proceedings, and taught the Mvskoke language.

She is preceded in death by her parents, both her brothers, Elwood Sulphur and Emanuel Sulphur.

Louella is survived by five sisters, Chanenna (Jimmy) Davis, Hanna, OK, Patricia Belford of Southlake, TX, Linda (Everett) Wood, Okemah, OK, Sylvia Reininger of Oklahoma City, Sandra Goddard of Eufaula, OK and two brothers: Leroy Sulphur and Woodrow Sulphur, Jr. of Eufaula. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins, other relatives, friends and her special little furry friend Chissey.