Olga Shake

Olga Shake, 96 of Leader, MN, died peacefully Saturday, March 10, 2018 at Essentia-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd, MN, with her two daughters by her side. Services for Olga will be at 11 am, Monday, March 19th, at Swan Valley Lutheran Church in Leader, with Pastor David Stevens officiating. Visitation will be 3-5 pm Sunday, March 18th at Brenny Funeral Chapel, Staples, MN and one hour prior to services on Monday. Interment will be at Swan Valley Cemetery.

Olga was born May 9th, 1921 in Fergus Falls, MN to Ragnhild and Albert Bjerga who immigrated to the Unites States from Norway in 1912. After her family moved to Motley, MN, at the age of 16 she started working as a housekeeper and nanny in Staples. In 1941 she met and married Ward Shake and settled on a small farm in Leader, MN.

Olga worked as a waitress and managed a small restaurant in Motley and spent 20 years working at the Carter Ringer garment factory in Staples. During the entire time working, she still came home to help Ward tend to the cattle, sheep & hogs as well as their trucking business. At retirement they wintered in Arizona, enjoying the warm sun and meeting new people. After Wards passing Olga continued to winter in Yuma, Arizona for a total of 30 years.

In her past time she enjoyed quilting, knitting and crocheting things for her family and friends. She was a member of Swan Valley Lutheran Ladies Aide, the Motley Study Club, Senior citizens club, a charter member of the Leader Lions, and was a clerk on the Byron township board. Olga thoroughly enjoyed reading the daily paper and keeping up with current events as she thrived on learning.

Olga is survived by her son, Lester (Linda) Shake, Basking Ridge, NJ, daughters, Joyce (Richard) Sowers, Becker, MN and Debra Shake, Leader, MN; grandchildren Terry Sowers, Jay Shake, Kim Maher, Michael, Robin & John Jeffrey Chiusano; 15 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren and sister in law Leona Crider, Motley, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, great grandchild Patrick Maher; 6 brothers Christian, Mikkel, Swen, Alvin, Arthur and Harold; 3 sisters Ruth Wax, Thelma Garrison and Esther Barton. Services have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples, MN.