Olive Shaw Wuerthner, “Ollie Wuerthner”, an artist, a teacher and beloved mother and grandmother, passed away on July 8, 2018, in Jordan, Montana, following a long illness. She had been a resident of Great Falls for many years.
The youngest of three children, she was born on October 1, 1924 in Medicine Lake, Montana. She attended schools in Medicine Lake, MT, Minot, ND and Billings,MT. Following graduation from high school in Billings, she moved to Great Falls and studied art and education at the College of Great Falls.
She married Marvin Shaw in 1946. Marvin’s son, Marvin, Jr., who had been living with his grandmother during World War II, moved into the family home in Great Falls. Later, two daughters, Becky and Joye, were born.
Olive came close to drowning in a riptide off the coast of California as a child and had been afraid of water. However, as a young mother and homemaker, she responded to an ad in the Great Falls Tribune entitled: Housewives Learn to Swim, and took swimming lessons at the Great Falls Natatorium. She excelled at swimming and especially enjoyed diving in perfect form. She became a water safety instructor and taught swimming lessons privately and at Paris Gibson Junior High.
After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, she taught fourth grade classes at Emerson and Chief Joseph Schools, retiring in 1985. A member of Big Sky Scribes, she excelled in calligraphy and painting in watercolor. It was evident to everyone who knew Olive that she had an especially joyful attitude toward life and others.
Olive became a widow when Marvin passed away in a tragic car accident in 1970. In 1991, she married John Wuerthner who passed away in 2000. Because of health problems and to be near her daughters, Olive moved to Helena in 2008 where she lived at the Waterford Retirement Home and then in 2009 moved to the Garfield County Health Center in Jordan, MT. The family wishes to thank the nursing staff at the Garfield County Health Center for their sincere thoughtfulness in her care.
Preceding her in death, other than her husbands, were her parents and her brother and sister. Olive leaves two daughters, Becky Shaw of Helena and Joye (Clyde) Saylor of Jordan; a son, Marvin Shaw, Jr. (Marlene) of Houston, Texas, grandsons, Ken (Kei) Gilmer of Lake Forest, CA, Sam (Natalie) Gilmer of Bozeman and granddaughters, Joli (Mike) Mathis of Bridger and Kade Shaw of Billings; and four great-grandchildren.
At her request, no services are planned at this time. Memorials in her name may be sent to the Great Falls Rescue Mission, Great Falls Animal Shelter, the Alzheimer’s Association, the McLaughlin Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences at mclaughlinresearch.org or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Please share memories and condolences at www.stevensonandsons.com
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Lynn Smith Arnerich says
Joye I’m sad to see that your mother has passed away. I’m back in Great Falls for the summer.
For some reason one of my best memories is a snack your mother made us, I think Triscuit crackers with dill pickle and cheese, then she broiled them. Since I am volunteering at the Great Falls Animal Shelter, I will make a small donation in Olive’s name. My best to you and Becky and all the other family.
Cheryl Reichert says
I remember Olive from her early years in Great Falls. Her first husband Marvin was my dad Rick’s best friend, and they worked together and hunted together. As a result Olive and my mother Arlyne became good friends, and as Rick’s oldest daughter I remember hanging out at their house and taking archery lessons from Junior. Those were sure happy times, and I thought they would go on forever. In later years I remember going to the YWCA fund-raising lunches with Olive and my mother. I can still hear Olive’s infectious good-natured laugh. May she rest in peace.
Arlyne Reichert says
Olive was my very best friend for many years. She and Marvin were a young newlywed couple when Rick, my beloved husband & I first met them. We did everything together. Rick and Marv were truly kindred spirits. We spent our free time on camping and fishing trips in remote places. Olive taught me how to become a “Western Woman”. Marv and Rick worked together at Bison Motor & subsequently joined the GF Fire Dept. at the same time. As bosom buddies they agreed on everything. We bought our homes in the same neighborhood, bought jeeps at the same time, and they both died tragically within a year of each other. Olive was always an inspiration to me. One of the most thoughtful things she did for me was use her calligraphy talent to present the Lord’s Prayer to me in a beautiful frame when my dear Mother died. I awake each morning looking at it and the surrounding photos of my departed loved ones. I always enjoyed those many times when Olive and I reminisced about our happy years when our children were small. My sympathy and thoughts go out to Becky, Joye Marv, Jr. and their families. Olive was very special and she adored you!