Mina Newhouse

Mina Newhouse (née Scott) of rural Capron, Illinois passed away peacefully on January 8, 2026, surrounded by family, six months after her 100th birthday. The fifth and youngest child of Hazel and M.R. Scott, Mina was born July 3, 1925, in rural Boone County, where she lived her entire life. Beginning at age five, she would walk over a mile to her one-room schoolhouse. After graduating from Capron High School in 1943, she married William Newhouse in May 1944. They raised two daughters and two sons on their farm near the IL/WI state line. Their lives were centered in active participation in nearby Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church, the shared challenge of raising some 10,000 turkeys for the market each year, and the joys of a rich community of farm neighbors and friends. In the midst of that, Mina was beloved for the generosity of her hospitality and making each visitor feel as if they were home. Her kindness, her curiosity about their lives, and her famous pies that came out of the oven that morning were expressions of her love and care. Making beauty and cherishing it in so many forms was an unspoken priority for her, whether that was in growing vivid bouquets of gladiolas, geraniums, roses and early-spring crocus; positioning a cut-glass vase just so on a windowsill to catch a sunset; or pausing to enjoy a piece by Chopin or Grieg. While these were her passions, her chief lifelong joy was her family. She relished watching them grow and remain close. She traveled often to Vermont and Norway to keep family ties warm. Everyone who knew her thought that they were her favorite. That was her life of service and devotion to those she loved and loved her in return. She spoke often of how she was the lucky one. 

She is predeceased by husband William Newhouse; her eldest daughter, Nancy Wilhelmsen; and survived by daughter Virginia Johnson, sons Marshall (Julie) Newhouse, and Brian (Angela) Newhouse; ten grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. The family wishes to thank Carol Rizzo for many years of faithful help to Mina; and special gratitude to Northern Illinois Hospice for its service in Mina’s final days.  

Visitation (9:30am) and Funeral (11am) will be at Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Poplar Grove on Saturday, January 24. Memorials to Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church; the Alzheimer’s Association; or the charity of your choice. 

Brian Mark Funeral Home is assisting the family. 608-362-2000 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.