Middle River – Olga Elizabeth Hamberg passed away at the Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls, on Tuesday, June 27, 2017, at the age of 99 years, 6 months and 22 days.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2017 at First Lutheran Church in Middle River with Pastor Mark Mathews officiating. Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Collins Funeral Chapel in Middle River, as well as one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery at Strathcona.
Olga Elizabeth Hamberg, the daughter of the late Peter and Agda (Wicklund) Lorenson, was born on Dec. 5, 1917, on a farm near Strathcona. She attended the former Sunnyside School near her home through the 8th grade.
Olga was baptized in the Lutheran faith. She married Nels Hamberg in 1934 and in 1936, they went to Montana in a 1936 Model T to look for work. They returned to Strathcona and bought a farm where they raised their three children, Duane, Janyce and Judy.
In 1955, the family moved to the Iron Range and in 1959 moved to Arizona. Nels passed away in 1990 and Olga then made her home in Middle River with her daughter, Janyce. She was a loving, sweet lady who enjoyed cooking and baking for family and friends. Her cookie jar was always full. She enjoyed her family and watching cooking shows on TV.
Olga is survived by her son, Duane and friend, Bertha, of Elk, WA, and two daughters: Janyce of Middle River and Judy (Sam) Darby, of Cottonwood, AZ; 8 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren; stepdaughter: Louise Knutson, of Greenbush; in addition to numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Olga was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, daughter-in-law: Karen Hamberg; son-in-law: Larry Peterson; step-mother: Bessie Lorenson; brother: John Lorenson; sisters: Agnes (Oscar) Olson, Gladys (Ishmeal) Rynning, Bernice (Clayton) Christopher, Alice (Lloyd) Anderson, Mildred (Larry) Sumner and Ardyce (Orphie) Dahl; brothers-in-law: Zak, Alfred, John and Bill Hamberg; sisters-in-law: Ann Grindlund, Mae Maidment and Erma Hoglund; and step-brothers-in-law: Berdean Knutson and Ralph and Elmer Martini.
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