Marie (Olfert) Wiebe

June 21, 1936-December 14, 2021

Marie Olfert was born on the Wilson Farm at Harris, SK on June 21, 1936. She was the 10th child of 13 born to Maria and Abram Olfert. The family moved to Luseland in 1939, to the farm 6 miles from town.

Mom’s first memory is of her youngest brother Peter being born when Mom was nearly 6 yrs old. He was born at home and Mom, Margaret and Frieda had to stay at the neighbours’ - Knorrs. Mom commented that she was a bit upset that they couldn’t be at home.

As children, Mom said her best friend was Aunt Margaret. They shared a bed and Mom admitted that they often teased their younger sister Frieda (and got spanked for it).

Mom was baptized on June 13, 1954 at Superb Mennonite Church. She was very active in the church, was a member of the Ladies Aid, sang in the choirs, and taught Sunday School for many years.

Mom attended Luseland School for Grades 1-12, then attended Saskatchewan Teachers College in Saskatoon in 1954-55. Her first teaching position was at the Prairiedale School, a one-room school approximately 10 miles south of Major. She taught grades 1-9 and had approximately 13 students. Her salary for the year was $2,200.00, which she told us was a bit higher than some other schools at the time.

Mom taught at Prairiedale School for 2 years, then in 1957-58 took a semester at Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg. Upon returning from CMBC Mom taught that spring and the following year at the Macklin School (grades 5-6) and after marrying Dad she taught grade 5 for one partial year at the Luseland School.

Marie and John Wiebe had their first date on September 7, 1955 when John’s (Dad’s) parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Dad was farming with his dad Jacob and brother Peter on the farm at Superb and Mom was teaching at the Prairiedale School. As the celebration was held during the week on a school day, Dad drove to the farm where Mom was boarding and asked her to join him at the anniversary celebration.

They became engaged on June 15, 1958 and were married July 11, 1959 in the Superb Mennonite Church. They walked down the aisle together and had no attendants, as was the custom at the time. The reception was at the Olfert farm in a large, fairly new machine shed, which was followed by visiting and German Circle Games. For their honeymoon, they drove to Radium Hot Springs and then Vancouver in their International truck, which had a homemade camper in the box.

For the first year of Mom and Dad’s marriage they lived in Luseland in an apartment in Wagner’s house. They had a bedroom and kitchen/living room and shared the bathroom with other tenants. Mom taught school in Luseland and Dad drove out to Superb to farm as well as worked with the plumbers in Luseland as they were just getting water systems installed for the town. They moved to the farm at Superb in April 1960 into the two-storey, two-bedroom XL house and Nelda was born in May of that same year. The house was drafty and cold in winter and they would move all of the beds downstairs during the winter months so they would only need to heat the three rooms on the main floor. Along with Nelda, 4 more children were born while the family lived in the “old house”: Norm, Elaine, Debbie, and Rob. In 1968 a new house was built, where they had running water for the first time. Myrna was born in 1970, after they were completely moved into the new house.

As a family we enjoyed going camping and going for Sunday drives. We also enjoyed spending time with extended family. One year Mom and Aunt Tina took a Chinese food cooking course and for several years on New Year’s Eve we would have a large Chinese food supper which was shared with many other relatives.

Mom said that as Oma Olfert would have rather been working outside than inside, she was tasked with learning how to sew. Her sisters said Mom could look at an outfit, think about it for a while, then make her own pattern and have it fit just so. She not only sewed, but took up knitting, crocheting, embroidery, pottery, and even some upholstery. Mom sewed most of her children’s clothes – it was so commonplace that it wasn’t always appreciated as much as it could have been, and it very exciting whenever we were able to have store-bought jeans or other items. She sewed everything from swather belts to ski jackets & ski pants, and all things in between. Mom even went to the school to help the teacher with the sewing portion of Home Economics when some of her children were taking the course.

Dad died suddenly in February of 1988. Norm was farming, but also still trucking so it got lonely out on the farm. So when Swift Current Bible Institute asked if she was interested in working in the kitchen she agreed and worked as assistant cook for three years. When Norm died in August of 1990 Rob took over the farming with Mom.

Mom (Oma) adored her grandchildren and her children definitely appreciated all of the times she would go out to stay with them whenever a grandchild was born. Elaine remembers Mom baking and sewing and helping with whatever, then a week or 10 days later would ask if Elaine was ok on her own. When Elaine assured her she was ok Mom would pack up and head home only to have Elaine start crying shortly after, realizing how much she had relied on mom.

Marie moved to Saskatoon in 1994 where she said she now had the chance to live closer to the other half of her siblings. She was active on her condo board and enjoyed the chance to attend Mennonite Historical Society meetings in the city. The condo on 9th Street was not that far from Gerard and Tina’s house and they were able to stay “neighbours”. She continued to help out on the farm by going out during harvest for many years, making meals and looking after her grandchildren.

Mom moved to Bethany Manor in 2015. Mom – and we – were so excited that she lived just across the hall and down 1 door from her sister Tina. Mom appreciated being so close to friends and family and appreciated the many events that Bethany Manor held.

Mom moved out of Bethany Manor into Cedar Gardens Care Home in the fall of 2019. Within half of year of moving to Cedar Gardens, COVID restrictions were in place and the isolation that came with those restrictions was very hard on her mental health, and contributed to her dementia.

After a short stay at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Mom passed away on December 14, 2021

Marie was predeceased by her husband John Wiebe, son Norman Wiebe, and great-grandson Elijah Brown. She was also predeceased by her parents Maria and Abram Olfert, brothers George, Henry, Abe, John, and Jake; sisters Tina (1926-1933) and Helen; brothers-in-law Oscar (Anne) Peters and Gerard (Tina) Warkentin; sisters-in-law Helen (George), Sue (Henry), Frieda (Abe), and Grace (Jake); nieces Jean Warkentin, Marie Peters, and Diane Hiebert; nephews Bert Olfert and Keith Peters.

Along with a large amount of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, Marie is survived by siblings: Anne Peters, Tina Warkentin, Margaret & Peter Peters, Frieda & Len Koop, Peter & Vera Olfert and sister-in-law Agatha Wiebe. Her children: Nelda & Dave Indzeoski (Amy) (Steven & Esther – Nylea), Elaine & Brad Giesbrecht (Ashley & Josef Brown – Holly, Theo, & Simon) (Andrew & Melissa - Abi) (Stuart & Anja) (Michael), Deb & Albert Goerzen (Allison Goerzen & Kevin Stoesz – Emerson & Blake) (Wade) (Dayna & Matthew Stefaniuk), Rob & Gail Wiebe (Cress) (Tim), and Myrna Wiebe.

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