"Centennial Queen" Olive S. Gulbranson:
This story is a revision of an original written article, by sister Lou, among others, in submitting Mother's name as a candidate for Centennial Queen in Flandreau, S. D. in 1967. Lou's original article was instrumental in Mother's being subsequently crowned during the town's celebration. We all knew she was a Queen all the time!!!-----by: Claude S. Gulbranson

Mother, Olive S. (born Olava Serena) Amundson, was born in Tracy, Minnesota on July 23, 1887 to Ole and Doretha Amundson. She moved with her parents and siblings to Chatfield, Minnesota in 1893. There she attended grade school, but was unable to complete high school because of ill health. During her teens she was quite frail.
Mother first came to South Dakota on August 11, 1906 to work for her sister, Mrs. J. B. Olson (Aunt Lizzie). While there she met her future husband, John. Previously, her sister, Aunt Ida, had married John's brother, Uncle Alfred.
She returned to Chatfield in 1907 and in 1909, because of poor health, she decided to "Go West". She homesteaded in western South Dakota, north of the Black Hills, 12 miles west of Faith, S. D., in Meade County and "proved up" on a land claim of 160 acres. Living the life of an early pioneer alone, with Indians as neighbors, she built her own sod house and furniture. During the 14 months "out west", she began her life of service to others. One day returning from helping a neighbor, her horse stumbled in a prairie dog hole, threw her, then fell on her, injuring her pelvis and causing paralysis from the waist down. (Mother's diary of her days on the claim shows that she very often took care of sick friends and neighbors, plus cooking, baking and otherwise assisting many of those around her).
She returned to Flandreau via a wagon to recuperate. It was first thought that she would never walk again, nor be able to bear children, but through the services of Dr. Spafford and the good nursing care and persistence of her sister, Aunt Lizzie and her future husband, John, she regained her health and ability to walk. (like this story---"The doctor told mother that, because of her accident, she should never marry. Then when John persisted, the doctor told her that marriage was ok, but that she couldn't have children. Undaunted, Mother and Dad settled on only 10 children and then Mother proceeded to outlive her husband by many years, and finally was called to heaven when she was 'only' 89 years old.")
During her recovery from this accident, Daddy continued his courting and on March 6, 1912, they were married in Chatfield, Minnesota.
Daddy and Mother returned to Moody County, South Dakota and built and operated a country general store, known as RIVERVIEW, 6 miles west and 6 miles north of Flandreau. Their home was in rooms behind the store. They maintained a cream station and bought eggs, as well as sold groceries, dry goods and household supplies. They operated this store from June of 1912 to September 1930. All of their children were born during these years.
Aside from raising and educating seven sons and three daughters, they made a home for a nephew for two years and a niece for three years.
During all these years, Mother was very active in the affairs of her church. She taught Sunday School for 32 years, was a life member of the Ladies Aid of the Lutheran Church and sang in the choir for many years. She also spent two summers as Dean of Girls at Ne-So-Dak Bible Camp in the late 40's.
During the Depression in the 30's, she helped provide additional income for the family by weaving and selling rugs made on a large loom. Many nights I can remember awakening and hearing the thump, thump, thump, of the loom in the basement. We children also helped by tearing strips of various kinds and colors of cloth (including old silk stockings), sewing them together to make the raw materials that went into the rugs.
For many years, Mother also did considerable nursing, caring for new mothers and many elderly persons. She assisted in bringing no less than seventeen babies into the world. She worked as a nurse's aide on night duty in the Flandreau Hospital and was a cook in the school lunch program at Spafford School for many years. Staff and students at the school sorely missed her fresh baked bread and rolls when she retired.
Her dedication to the Christian life has been an outstanding example of service to others. Many hours were spend at the bedside of someone who was ill, or caring for a house and/or children of a family whose mother was ill or otherwise in need. Mother was the one person that the entire community felt they could call on in time of trouble, day or night, and they often did just that. her abilities as a seamstress were frequently put to good use in providing clothing and bedding for the unfortunate, in addition to her own large family.
During WW I and WW II, many hours were spent knitting and sewing for servicemen. She collected and sent many boxes of clothing to be distributed in war torn Europe.
When times became real bad right after the Depression started, the Gulbransons moved to Flandreau in September of 1930. I (CSG) started to school in the first grade with cousin, Lavina, (Aunt Eva's daughter) the day we moved into the town. That year there were 4 children in grade school, 4 in high school and 2 pre-schoolers at home. Nine of the ten children of John and Olive graduated from Flandreau High School.
Mother taught and lived love of God and Country. Five sons were on active duty during WW II and one served in the Korean conflict. The seventh son, Frederic, was unable to pass the physical because of a hearing impairment resulting from scarlet fever as a youngster. Fred did his part by working in a defense plant in San Diego building B-24 bombers in 1941-1945. In addition, ten of her grandchildren have served in the Armed Services, some in Vietnam.
After her children left home, Mother (and Daddy) cared for little children from the Welfare Department until they could be placed in a permanent home. One Boy, Eddie, was a babyhood friend of son, David She and Daddy have always loved children, giving much time and Tender Loving Care to all.
In addition to Mother's activities in the church, which was her first concern, she was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary and worked on many drives for the Red Cross and the Cancer Society.
In 1953, Mother and Daddy were privileged to realize a life-long dream when they visited Norway and many other European countries. Brother Irvin was stationed in Germany at the time and drove them through all of those countries. The visited a cousin of Dad's in Oslo, Katie Bruu and her daughter, Grethe.
When Mother was 72 years old, she took a cargo liner (tramp steamer) trip to the Orient by herself, to visit Irvin who was stationed in Japan. During that trip a storm came up and Mother was almost washed overboard. While in the East, she took a side trip to Korea, Hong Kong, Leyte, Formosa (Taiwan), and Okinawa. On her way home, she stopped in the Philippines and Hawaii. Often, got to really see some wonderful sights. She traveled from October 1959 to March 1960.
Mother lost her beloved husband in February 1958. One son, Frederic, was killed in an auto accident in 1946 while returning to San Diego with his wife, Evelyn and 9 month old son, Gary after having spent Fourth of July in Flandreau and visiting Chicago also. Ironically, Fred had picked up a serviceman, hitch-hicking, and this man was driving the car when the accident occurred. Her other nine children live in seven different states. Mother spent all her later years visiting from one offspring to another on a regular basis. She was visiting from Peggy & George in Dallas, Texas when she died, after a very full life to age 89, in February 1977.
Mother didn't have to belong to a club or organization to know that her neighbor needed a helping hand. She was just there, seeing and doing what must be done. Her real concerns were always for the needy and underprivileged.

SURVIVORS:
She is survived by 6 sons, Irvin, Huntsville, Ala., Gordon, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, John Jr., Denver, Co., Claude, Petersborough, N.H., Oliver, Berlin, N.J., Francis, Prairie View, Ill.; 3 daughters, Mrs. Lou Ella Nace of Flandreau, Margaret, Mrs. George Smith, Arlington, Texas, Dorothy, Mrs. Ray Taylor, Fremont, Calif.; 24 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Mattie Turner, St. Charles, Minn. She was preceded in death by her husband, one son Fredric, her parents, 5 brothers, 3 sisters, 2 infant sisters and 2 grandsons.

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ODE TO GRANDMOTHER (by Willa Faris)

Family, Church and Country
Were her greatest loves of all,
To those she gave her everything
to people large and small.

She raised her own ten children
And helped with many more,
When food was scarce and times were hard,
She still gave to the poor.

Six of her sons were in the service,
All served in the war,
She did her own part here at home,
One could not ask for more.

Now in living out her golden years,
Still full of charm and grace,
A kinder woman hasn't lived,
In any time or place.

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DATE AND PLACE OF SERVICE
Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1977, 2:00 P.M.; Our Savior's Lutheran Church; Rev. Noel Vold, Officiating
MUSIC
Duet: Rev. and Mrs. James Gullickson, "In The Garden", "Beautiful Savior",
Congregation: "Holy, Holy, Holy", "A Mighty Fortress",
Mrs. Stella Knudson, Organist
BEARERS
George Berg, Herman Peper, Marvin Gullickson, Elwin Johnson, Warren Amundson, Merle Gulbranson
FINAL RESTING PLACE
Union Cemetery, Flandreau, S. D.
ARRANGEMENTS
Skroch Funeral Chapel