Emma L. Olek

Emma Leona Theophila Merkel was born February 24, 1926 in Coldwater Township, near Ashley, ND. She attended country school through the ninth grade. Her family moved to Forbes, ND, where she and her nine brothers and four sisters were raised.

She was united in marriage to Richard "Dick" Olek on March 3, 1944, in Moorhead, MN. They farmed in the Felton, MN, area where they raised seven children.

Emma adored her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. She was unwavering in her love and predictable in her discipline. She cherished time with her family. Mothering was her greatest gift, and her greatest joy.

Emma was an active member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Felton. Also the Felton Rescue Squad, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, the Neighborhood Birthday Club, and the Quilting Circle. Emma was always available to lend a helping hand to her friends and neighbors with a devoted belief in service to others.

Living on a farm was a lot of work, always chores to do, always full, busy days. But Emma continually tried to incorporate time for her children to just play; she was very conscious of that.

For example, if it was rainy, her children were sent outside in their bare feet to squish their toes in the mud, and catch raindrops in their mouths. If the family was bored on a snowy day, puzzles and board games or a deck of cards came out, or a game of 'hide and seek' was planned. If the children were too full of energy and wanted to rough house, Emma would drive them a half mile down the road, and drop them off with directions to run home through the cornfields to wear off their energy, but they were not to tell their dad! If there were sibling squabbles, the children would have to sit at the kitchen table across from each other, for half an hour, and then apologize...and mean it! If there wasn't money for store bought toys, Emma made stilts, tin cans to walk on, tire swings to swing in, and homemade play dough to squish. Church and school activities were an important part of Emma's family.

Emma was unwavering in her love. Mothering was her greatest gift, and it was her greatest joy. Her love had always been the kind that acted itself out with homemade quilts, German chocolate cake and kuchen, rhubarb pie, other German foods, and ginger snap cookies.

Emma was full of idioms and sayings as she raised her children. She would say:

Don't count your chicks before they hatch.
You made your bed, now lie in it.
Cat's got your tongue.
Still wet behind the ears.
Keep your chin up!

But there was one saying, she repeated a lot. In the morning to wake the family, she would call up the stairs, 'Rise and shine!' Later she would add, 'Rise and Shine, and give God the glory!' Her faith was strong!

Emma's language was limited to 'yes, no, and I don't know' in the last few years. However, she sang every word in the hymns that Deacon Jim would lead once a week.

But when Emma's language was taken away, she simply sat there in her chair and loved her family. Love has no boundaries! She loved her caregivers, she loved being tickled, she loved putting on her tennis shoes for a little walk, she loved holding babies, and she loved saying, 'I love you' when family had to leave.

If there was a billboard on the side of the road advertising Emma, it would say 'STRENGTH'. Her strength came from the Lord. Her family has tears of gratitude, and profound respect for their mother.

Emma passed into the peace of eternal life on Sunday, April 22, 2012, at Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead. She was preceded by her husband, Richard H. Olek; her parents, Jacob and Flossie Merkel; nine brothers; two sisters; son, Allen; daughter, Barbara; and an infant grandson.

Emma is survived by two sisters, Marion (Mike) Martin of Forbes, ND, and Frances Schwan of Anaheim, CA; two daughters, Darlene Olek of Fergus Falls, MN, and Shirley (Rick) Johnson of Breezy Pt, MN; three sons, Rick (Belinda) Olek of Fargo, ND, David (Suzy) Olek of Glyndon, MN, and Mark (Lori) Olek of Blaine, MN; fourteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; three step grandchildren; and ten step great grandchildren.

The family extends their thanks to Evergreens in Moorhead, Rosewood on Broadway, Fargo, and Eventide Lutheran Home for all the moments of joy they provided for our mother.

Visitation for Emma will be Tuesday, May 1, 2012, from 5 - 7 PM, with a prayer service at 6:30 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.

Her funeral will be Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at 1 PM, in Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Felton.

Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead.