Oliver, Louise (Franken) 1928-2002

OLIVER, OLIVIER, FRANKEN, BOSCH, EVANS, VAN VELDHUIZEN, VAN BATAVIA, ALTENA

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 3/29/2008 at 20:11:15

From the Northwest Iowa Review, Sheldon, (O'Brien), Iowa, November 23, 2002:

Louise Oliver

Jan. 6, 1928-Nov. 17, 2002

SIOUX CENTER-Louise Oliver, 74, Sioux Center, died Sunday , Nov. 17, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Services were Thursday, Nov. 21, at New Life Reformed Church in Sioux Center, with the Rev. Carl Boersma officiating. Burial was at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center, under the direction of Oolman Funeral Home in Sioux Center.

Louise Oliver, daughter of Gerrit and Gertie (Bosch) Franken, was born Jan. 6, 1928, in rural Sioux Center. She was raised on the family farm near Middleburg and graduated from Sioux Center High School.

She also attended Westmar College in LeMars, where she obtained a teaching certificate.

She married John M. "Jack" Oliver on June 26, 1947, at Free Grace Reformed Church in Middleburg.

They made their home in Sioux Center. Mr. Oliver died Nov. 25, 1969, in Sioux Center.

She was a country school teacher in earlier years. Later, she was a teacher at Hope Haven in Rock Valley, and then became activity director of Hope Haven's Residential Training Center in Orange City.

More recently, she worked part-time for Hope Haven.

She was a member of New Life Reformed Church in Sioux Center, where she participated in a women's circle and a quilting group. She was a former member of Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center, where she had been a teacher and superintendent of the Sunday School. She was a founding member of the Sioux County Chapter of the Association for Retarded Citizens. She taught Friendship Bible classes, and she was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

When her children were younger, she was active as a leader in 4-H, Cub Scouts and Bluebirds. She enjoyed sewing, making crafts and taking walks.

Survivors include seven children, Linda Evans of Sioux Falls, SD, Wanda Oliver of Glenwood, Jon Michael and Barb Oliver of Sioux City, Jeff Oliver of Phoenix, Jim and Carol Oliver of Pella, Jay Oliver of Sioux Center, and Jaci and Lee Van Veldhuizen of Doon; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Grace Van Batavia of Luverne, MN, and Kathleen Altena of Sioux Center; and four brothers: Gerrit Franken of Sioux Center, Howard Franken of Luverne, MN, Arnie Franken of Sioux Center, and Irwin Franken of Denver, CO.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John M. "Jack" Oliver; and three brothers, Everett Franken, Dries Franken and Louis Franken.

Memorials may be directed to the KTO Children's Program at New Life Reformed Church in Sioux Center or to Special Olympics of Iowa.