Olena W. Anne Ottinger

Olena was born July 24, 1921 to Byrl and Mary Goss, in a mining town (Ojo) near La Veta, Colorado. She grew up on the family homestead in La Veta with her two brothers and seven sisters. It was there that she met and married her late husband, Virgil Nile Ottinger on October 22, 1940. Virgil and Olena lived in 52 different homes doing various farming and professional jobs throughout Colorado before "retiring" in Eaton, Colorado. She played basketball in high school and was an avid sports fan, watching three generations of her family compete in various sports and activities. She loved nature, fishing, shopping, traveling, watching westerns, playing cards, and especially dancing. She was a member of the Grange and participated in square dancing contests at different Granges. She took dance lessons at Aims Community College and danced at many Senior groups until she was 92.

She belonged to the Grange, Gill Women’s Home Demonstration Club, and the Southern Chapter of the Territorial Daughters of Colorado. She was a member of St Peters’ Catholic Church in Greeley, Colorado.

She is survived by her children Nila Sauer, Scott & Joan Ottinger, Carol & Dave Sauer, and Charley and Marilu Ottinger. She is also survived by her grandchildren Amy Stack, Lori & Corey Shelton, Cindi & Justin Clymer, Kevin & Kim Sauer, Greg & Alice Ottinger, Michelle & Kerry Hess, David Sauer, Jerry Sauer, Charles Sauer, Jeff Ottinger, and Cameron & Ryan Patrick. Her great grandchildren: Chance Stack, Tanner Stack, Chase & Kaylie Shelton, Kylie Shelton, Mikalyn Caudill, Cassedy Caudill, Shiloh Caudill, Laura Clymer, Henry Clymer, Stella Clymer, Adam Clymer, Madelyn Sauer, Garrett Sauer, Meredith Sauer, Grayson Sauer, Nathanel Hess, Jarrod & Katrina Hess, Damien and Ashley Hess, Jeremy & Sara Hess, Kaitlyn Hess, Alex Kempen, Hailey Ottinger, Lexi Ottinger, and Jenna Patrick. And her great-great-grandchildren Treyvor, Reyleigh, Dominic, Mariah, Nevaeh, Serenity, Rylan, Audrina, Urijah, and Zayne, Matthew, and Kaitlyn.

She was preceded in death by her husband Virgil Nile Ottinger, her daughter Charolene, her parents, her granddaughters Sherry Sauer and Karen Sauer, and her great-great grandson Drevon Hess.

She is preceded in death by her siblings Byrl, Robert, Margret and Hannah, and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by her sisters Zelma, Mildred, Nola, Delores, and Mary.

Visitation will be at Allnutt in Greeley, CO Friday March 6th from 5-7 pm, followed by a rosary at 7pm

Service will be held at Our Lady of the Valley in Windsor, CO on Saturday March 7th at 1 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society.