Cecilia Olheiser, 87, died peacefully in her home on Sunday, October 7, 2018 surrounded by family. Cecilia’s Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Monday, October 15, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. Keith Streifel as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Pius Catholic Cemetery, Scheffield. Visitation will be Sunday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service. A St. Pius Verein Rosary and Vigil will be at 4 p.m. with Deacon Al Schwindt presiding.
Cecilia was born March 16, 1931, in Mott, the daughter of Katharina and Kaspar Greff. She was raised and educated at St. Placidus in Mott. She married Nick Olheiser from Scheffield on October 14, 1952. They made their family home on the Olheiser farm north of Scheffield. In 1995 Cecilia and Nick moved to Dickinson.
Cecilia had her hands full helping run the farm with Nick, along with raising eight children. For many years she was part of the choir and Ladies Alter Guild at St Pius Catholic Church in Scheffield until the parish closed. Cecilia was also a member of the St. Pius Verein, St. Anthony Club, St. Ann’s Alter Guild and the choir at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dickinson. Cecilia was very active in the community and church. Cecilia, along with Nick, volunteered for many years at the House of Manna, Meals on Wheels, the Dickinson Museum Center and many other community organizations.
For many years Nick and Cecilia traveled in their motor home to visit family and friends in Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas, Montana, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and many points in between. During her travels she could catch up with the growing families.
Gardening was a way of life on the farm and she continued her passion for gardening after moving to Dickinson. Cecilia grew enough produce to feed the family, can extra for the winter and share with friends and neighbors. Even after receiving her prosthesis, she never skipped a beat. She also tended beautiful flower gardens. You could say she had a green thumb and enjoyed sharing her gardening advice with others.
Another one of Cecilia’s passions was playing cards. She and Nick enjoyed getting together with friends and family to play card games such as Rummy, Canasta, Pinochle, and Whist. She never met a deck of cards she didn’t like. Her other enjoyable pastimes were making quilts, baking, canning, playing bingo or just enjoying the sunset while sitting with her sweetheart, Nick, on the swing on their deck.
Cecilia is survived by her husband of 66 years, Nick; her children, Dennis (Christina), Houston, Texas, Fred (Robin), Salem, Ore, Don (Victoria), Salem, Ore, Stan (Brenda), Dickinson, Fran (Shayne), Rochester, Minn, Mary (Bruce) Leavitt, Cibolo, Texas, and twins Kathy (Tim) Griffin, Rochester, Minnesota, and Karen (Joe) Garza, The Woodlands, Texas; 19 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; one sister, Magdeline Kuntz; numerous nieces and nephews; and one sister-in-law Mae Greff.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Katharina (Senn) Greff and Kaspar Greff; sisters Katharina Messer, Anna Marie Steiner and Rose Mosbrucker; and brothers Peter and Simon Greff.
The family would like to express sincere thanks to CHI St. Alexius Hospice for their loving care and support.
