Lucille Helen Mense

Lucille Helen (Anderson) Mense, born on March 8, 1929, in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
passed peacefully away, Monday, March 10. She lived a full and adventurous life The
daughter of Swedish immigrants; Andrew John Anderson and Helen Sofia (Johnson)
Anderson, she grew up in rural Seymour, Wisconsin in a fundamental Christian and
loving family. In high school in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, she met the love of her life, Louis
Henry “Hank” Mense. They were married on January 10, 1948, in Eau Claire. Hank
joined the U.S. Coast Guard, and they lived a peripatetic life, being posted in locales as
varied as Ketchikan, Alaska, Alameda, California, Detroit, Michigan and Buffalo, New
York. Hank retired while posted at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Lucille worked as a church secretary while they lived in Alexandria, Virginia. Lucille had
a knack for and love of interior design and entertaining and made the most of their many
moves by decorating each new home as it came along. Our mother was quiet,
resourceful, kind, gracious, compassionate with deeply held morals and values that
reassured and helped her navigate life while dad was at sea for long periods of time.
She had a constantly assessing keen eye for styling aesthetics in her home and fashion
sense. Chocolate chip cookies must face outward in the (glass) cookie jar so as to
present themselves well. She had a full heart and deep appreciation for the flora and
fauna of our world and embraced their presence in her life…except snakes. She
understood the value of rest and relaxation and had a voracious appetite for books and
a love of music to do just that.
She could pack a house or a suitcase with equal efficiency and savored the joy in
anticipation of whatever adventure they were embarking on next. She instilled in us a
willingness to weather changes with calm, fortitude, faith, and an open mind.
Unconditional love and a gracious acceptance of the ebbs and flows of life inspired in us
the ability to “take the high road”, forgive transgressions and bask in the comfort and
celebrations of family and dear friends. Never one to crave the spotlight, she was
always happiest shining light on others.
She was never particularly happy with cold weather and eventually she and Hank made
their way to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in 1976. Through Hank’s leadership in
Rotary, they began years of overseas travel, especially enjoying cruises all over the
world. They were Saturday night regulars at a corner table at Collectors’ Cafe, their
favorite restaurant in Myrtle Beach and Lucille developed her art collecting skills through
their friendship with Tommy Davis at Collectors. They ambitiously attended an art show
of Tommy’s in New York in their 80’s.
Hank passed away in 2017 just before their 60th wedding anniversary. Rarely have two
individuals been so thoroughly devoted to each other. On Hank’s passing, she is
remembered as saying, “I’m a military wife, I can get through this”. Lucille loved her
pets, from Sandy, a cocker spaniel, to Nikki Nam Phong, a Siamese cat, Katrina, a
Himalayan cat, Annie, a Corgi, and Harley, another Corgi, to Fonzi, her beloved Bichon

Frise, who passed away in 2021. Oliver, a Siamese, became her devoted companion for
the past two years and has been adopted by Mom’s wonderful hospice nurse. Lucille is
survived by her sons, Michael (Bonny) of Snohomish, Washington, Jeff (Susan) of
Myrtle Beach and her daughter Lesa Carlisle (Gene) of Myrtle Beach, SC, 7
grandchildren; Morgan, Lauren, Emily, Drew, SaraJane, Helen, Hunter and 10 great
grandchildren.
The family is indebted to the loving, attentive care she received while a resident at
Brightwater’s Assisted Living and Heartland Hospice. A private family burial of Hank and
Lucille’s ashes at sea is planned.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Louis Henry Mense
Emerging Leader ROTC Endowed Scholarship at Coastal Carolina University. This
scholarship supports rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are full-time students
enrolled in the College of Business and participating in the ROTC program.
Contributions can be mailed to: Coastal Educational Foundation
P.O. Box 261954
Conway, SC 29528-6054
(Please indicate "L. H. Mense Emerging Leader ROTC Endowed Scholarship" in the
memo line.)

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