Olga (Sanders) Whitaker

Olga Sanders Whitaker was born 5 February, 1934 in Elgin, Oregon to Herbert Joshua Sanders and Arvilla Bernice Wangsgaard Sanders.

Her father was widowed in 1929 with 4 young children. Her mother was widowed in 1928 with a newborn child. They met in October of 1929 and were married in December of that year. Together, they raised 11 more children. Olga was number 9 in this blended family of 16 children.

When Olga was an infant, her family moved to Ogden, Utah. When she was 3 years old, they returned to Elgin. When World War ll broke out, her father went to Oakland, CA to work at the shipyards and in 1944 the family moved to California to be together.
After the war ended, the family relocated to Nyssa, Oregon. Olga attended high school in Ontario, Oregon and Nyssa, Oregon, graduating from Nyssa High School in 1952.

Olga met her husband, Allen Max Whitaker in 1951 at a church dance. Max gave Olga a diamond ring on her 18th birthday and they were married on August 8, 1952 in the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Max and Olga raised their 8 children on a farm three miles West of Vale, Oregon. Three sons, Lowell, Stanley, and Christopher. Five daughters, Mona, Jacki, Irene, Connie, and Darlene. They had one still born daughter, Angela. All the children learned how to milk cows, feed calves, drive pickups and tractors, and perform tasks that were required living on a farm. Olga taught her daughters to keep house, cook, and sew.

Olga and her family were active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Olga served as a Cub Scout den leader, Young Women’s President, and a counselor in the Primary Presidency.  She enjoyed writing and wrote several roadshows for the youth to perform, a pageant for the church Sesquicentennial celebration, and many skits for Girls Camp performances. She also did stand-up comic bits and readings at church parties, wedding receptions, and other events. She loved to make people laugh. Throughout her life, she has written poems for family members and friends. She has published lyrics to songs and columns in newspapers.

Olga is survived by 8 children; Lowell Allen (Ruth) Whitaker, Mona Lee (Doug) Searle, Stanley John (Nancy) Whitaker, Jacki Lin (Michael) Weideman, Irene Kay (Arthur) Winters, Connie Rae (Robert) King, Darlene Mae (Scott) Butler, and Christopher Max (Amanda) Whitaker. Also surviving her are four brothers; Joe, Jim, George, and David, and three sisters, Barbara, Virginia, and Christine. Olga is survived by 32 grandchildren, 78 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren. All spouses of children and grandchildren also survive her.

Preceding Olga in death is her beloved husband, Allen Max Whitaker, her parents, 5 brothers, 4 sisters, a stillborn daughter, and 2 stillborn great grandsons.

Olga’s final thoughts: “I love my dear husband more than anything in the world and I hope to be with him through all eternity. I love my sweet children and their precious families. I will be waiting for them, with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ”.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, September 6th at 2:00 pm at the LDS church in Vale, Oregon. A brief graveside ceremony will take place earlier in the day at 11:00 am at the Vale Cemetery for those that wish to attend. Services per Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel.

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