A Celebration of Life for Olive Murray will be held at a later date. Burial will be in the Marion North Reformed Church Cemetery with a family gathering. She died Monday November 4, 2024, at her home in the Legacy Place, Valley City, ND.
Olive Jean Flowers was born at home on November 13, 1933, to William and Maggie (Given) Flowers in Orrville, OH. Olive grew up there and graduated from Orrville High School in 1951. In 1958 she enlisted in the first class of the Women’s Air Force (WAF) from the state of Ohio. Basic training took her to Aukland Air Force Base in Texas. She then completed her Statistical Specialist Course. From there it was off to Gunter Air Force Base where she graduated from Intra Stat Analysis Course in October of 1960, Olive was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE. She was honorably discharged May 19, 1961.
It was while she was stationed at Offett Air Force Base that she met Riley Murray, who was also stationed there while serving in the Army. They were married in Orrville, OH on April 3, 1962. Their first child, Elizabeth Irene, arrived while in Omaha, NE. From Nebraska the family moved to Fessenden, ND where they managed a farm and raised sheep. Maggie Anna was born in Harvey, ND in 1969. The next move, to Churchs Ferry, ND would add two more children to the family, William Benton (Buff) (1970) and Katharine Eileen Lois (1971) who were born in Devils Lake, ND.
Olive was a stay-at-home mom in the early years. She was known for the multitude of crafts she would make for the church and school bazars. Sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, and embroidery were all mastered by Olive. Each child received a special quilt when they married along with a baby quilt when each grandchild and great grandchild was born. A treasured quilt made by grandma was also given as each grandchild graduated, married and also when the great grandchildren started to arrive. She always had something on hand to donate to a fundraiser. From clothes for school, to quilts, to Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, and Halloween costumes, Olive did it all.
The final move for the family was to Valley City, ND. Olive started working at VCSU in the food service department and was with them for almost 20 years. In her last years there she was the head baker. While working, she started attending classes and would graduate Magna Cum Laude in 1979 with a degree in Education and minors in English and Library Sciences.
In retirement Olive found great joy in her time spent quilting and coffee times at the Quilted Ceiling. There was always hot coffee and laughter in the back room. If Olive forgot to tell them that she was going to be gone, she would inevitably get a call around 3pm from one of the ladies checking to see if she was alright.
Olive is survived by her 4 children: Beth (John) Anderson, Maggie (Darren) Stump, Buff (Karen) Murray and Katie (Ryan) Pommerer; 10 grandchildren: John (Melony), William (Kayla), and Jennifer Anderson, Riley and Cierra Stump, Emily, Benton and Avery Murray, and Jacob Pommerer and Jenna (Dan) Biggers; great grandchildren: John Jameson and Lily Ann Anderson, William, Liam and Lila Anderson.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; siblings, Bill, Eileen, Lois and Katie; and great granddaughter, Zoey Jean Anderson.
The Lerud Mathias Funeral Home, Valley City, is assisting Olive’s family with arrangements. An online guestbook is available at www.lerudmathias.com