Olene M White

Olene Margaret (Mehlhoff) White went to Heaven on June 4, 2014.

When Mom was young, the family moved from Russell, North Dakota to find a new residence. They traveled throughout the midwest states, into the southwest states, and throughout the Pacific states. They were looking for that special place, that permanent destination, to live for the rest of their lives. The Mehlhoffs finally settled in Salem, Oregon. Our grandmother stated in awe, “This is God’s country!”

Our father's family, on the other hand, lived in Spokane, Washington and the White’s had a much easier journey to Salem than my mother’s family.

Our mother and father attended Salem Public Schools. They graduated from Salem High School. They both attended Willamette University where they met and fell in love. They were married on June 8, 1947. After graduating from Willamette, Dad attained a degree in pharmacy from Oregon State. During those four years, Mom worked as a bookkeeper to help support him. They were the perfect couple supporting each other through this endeavor. Finally, Dad (with his pharmaceutical degree in hand), was hired by a good friend, Jim Tindall, who owned Tindall’s Engelwood Pharmacy. Later, Dad would be part owner in the business until his passing on Good Friday, April 10, 1963.

Mom worked as a bookkeeper at Tindall’s until they began a family. She became a full time housewife. Together they had three children - Gary, Grant, and Nancy. After Dad’s passing, Mom took on the daunting task of raising us. Through love, discipline and religion, she did just that. She always knew how to encourage, nurture, and do those things that a parent did when their children needed that special something. And, oh, let me tell you, there were several times when discipline was needed to straighten out a certain boy in the family! (We will not divulge that person’s name at this time. But we’re sure you can guess who that was! You have a 50% chance of getting it right.) She never remarried. She told us that there wasn’t another man who could intellectually and spiritually equal Dad. What a devoted lady!

After we graduated from high school, she again worked at the pharmacy as a bookkeeper. Later she would clerk at the store. She dearly loved to interact with people. When she retired from the pharmacy, she was a devoted reader, visited family members, and loved travel.

Mom was that special person who was so important to our success in life. And she did that all by herself. What a lady! Now, after 51 years, without him, she finally gets to be with her soulmate in Heaven.

Thank you, Mom! You were that really special person in our lives! You were the best! We love you!

Gary, Grant, and Nancy

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Willamette Valley Hospice.

Olene is in the care of Howell Edwards Doerksen Funeral Directors.