Olive M. Oanes, age 94 of Westbrook and formerly of Storden, passed away Saturday, April 4, 2020 at Our House Hospice of Murray County in Slayton.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic social gathering restrictions, private funeral services and committal will be held at the Westbrook Cemetery on Tuesday, April 7.  Stephens Funeral Service – Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Olive Mae (Ohlson) Oanes was born on December 22, 1925 to Ole J. and Carrie (Peterson) Ohlson in Cottonwood County, MN.  She grew up on the south edge of Westbrook.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and was a 1944 graduate of Westbrook High School.  After graduation, Olive went to work at Fairway Market, Erickson Hardware and then spent over 20 years working at the Westbrook State Bank, finishing as Assistant Vice President.  Olive cared for her mother after her father’s death in 1955 until Carrie entered Good Samaritan Home in 1974.  Olive married Clifford Oanes in 1975.  They resided in Storden.  She finished her working years at Westbrook Mutual Insurance in Storden.  Olive kept books for the Westbrook Cemetery and was on that board for many years, along with the Hospital board.  Olive taught Sunday School at Trinity Lutheran for 20 years.  She was able to make two trips to Norway, where she met relatives and visited her mother’s birthplace.  Clifford passed away in 1984.  She remained in Storden until January 2012 when she moved to the Good Samaritan in Westbrook, located on the land her parents once farmed.  She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Storden where she usually sat in the balcony, spoiling the children of the congregation.  Olive never came empty handed to Sherri’s home.  She enjoyed bringing cookies, candy, games and clothing for her great niece and nephews.  When you visited her at the nursing home, she always told you upon leaving, “You made my day, my week, my month, and my year.”  “Time marches on” was often said by Olive.  Olive entered hospice care on April 3^rd and passed away on April 4^th 2020 at Our House Hospice of Murray County at the age of 94.  Blessed be her memory.

Olive is survived by her nieces and nephew: Karen (Gary) Hoeft of Bemidji, Sherri (Marvin) Isder of Fulda, Craig (Kari) Ohlson of Waconia; 6 great-nieces and nephews: Kelli Stoa, Andrew Isder, Lucas Isder, Erin Morrow, Grace Hill, and Caden Ohlson; and 8 great-great-nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her parents, Ole J. and Carrie Ohlson, brother Max Ohlson, and husband Clifford Oanes.