Olive Bernice Barth

Olive Barth, age 87, of Appleton entered her heavenly home on Tuesday evening December 24, 2024. Visitation will be held from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at the Zniewski Funeral Home-Vaala Chapel in Appleton, followed by the funeral service at 2:00 pm. The burial will be in the Appleton City Cemetery.

Olive Bernice (Lehne) Barth was born July 6, 1937, in Morris, Minnesota, to parents Alfred and Thea (Tofte) Lehne. She was baptized into the Christian faith at Long Lake Church and later confirmed at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in rural Appleton. She went to country school through eighth grade and graduated from Appleton High School in 1955, where she was active in band and choir.

After graduation she worked at Ruth’s Café where she waited on Charles Schulz (of Peanuts fame.) She received a sketched drawing of herself on a napkin signed by him.

September 28, 1956, she was united in marriage to Walter Barth. For the next 60 plus years they lived on a farm north of Appleton. Olive loved farm life. She enjoyed mowing lawn, gardening, planting flowers, and working out in the field. She always had fresh banana bread, cookies, and coffee for anyone who stopped by.

Olive wrote the Hegbert News for the Appleton Press, worked at the potato factory, and the Carlson Doll Factory. She found her true niche in life in 1980. Her kind, compassionate nature led her to become a certified home health aide for the next 30 years in both Swift and Stevens Counties. This career led to many lasting friendships with both clients and their families. She was often hired privately for caretaking or house cleaning. Olive was also a certified hospice volunteer and personal care attendant (PCA).

Olive was a past member of the Hegbert Homemakers Club and the Chokio Sportsmen’s Club. She was a longtime member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School and belonged to the Ladies’ Aid. Most recently she was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Chokio, Minnesota.

Olive was very proud of being 100% Norwegian. She would often say, “I’m a tough, tough Norwegian,” and throughout many health challenges and life adversities, she proved that to be true. Olive was happiest spending time with her family. Her second love was dancing to country and old-time music.

Olive will be remembered as a role model of true generosity, honesty, and selflessness, always willing to go without so others could have. She will be truly missed by all who loved her. Blessed be her memory.

Olive is survived by her children: Connie Barth (Paul Tostenson) of Appleton, MN, Renae Barth (Bruce Lecheler) of Largo, FL, Shelley Beyer of Morris, MN, and Vickie (Darrell) Bartz of Glenwood, MN; seven grandchildren: Nicholas Barth, Travis Beyer, Cody Beyer (Danielle), Vanessa Bartz, Whitney Rodeberg (Derek), Olivia Fischer (Matt), and Derrek Bartz, six great-grandchildren: Reese Maiers, Navy Maiers, Teagan Rodeberg, Denver Rodeberg, Hadley Fischer, and Lucy Beyer.

Preceding Olive in death were her husband Walter Barth, infant son, parents Alfred and Thea Lehne, sisters Dorothy Hanson and Ethel Haider, niece Debbie Hilleren, brothers-in-law Willard Theilke and Allan Hanson, and numerous extended family and friends.