If you noticed that not as many flowers adorned the graves this past Memorial Day in Genesee, or the trees weren't laden with Easter eggs that had been launched by an attached rubber band (yes, we said trees) for the past few years, that would be because Olee Moden - born Viola Armbruster in WaKeeney, Kan. - entered eternal life peacefully on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow.

Her legacy is carried on by her daughter, Kathyrn, and her son, Walter and his wife Lauri.

Walt's children were blessed in having "Granti Olee" share so many wonderful crafts and personal time with them. Kylie, Katie and Konnor, carry wonderfully cherished memories of their grandmother and a few German slang words with them.

Olee began her illustrious life with humble beginnings Nov. 23, 1927, to Jacob and Katharina Armbruster, both of Illischestie, Bukovina, Austria, who made their home in WaKeeney, Kan.

She rivaled it out as the ninth of 10 siblings.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 46 years, Walter Moden of Genesee; and siblings Carrie Armbruster, Chris Armbruster, Jennie Claycamp, Eva Williams, Ernie Armbruster, Fritz Armbruster and Edna Weber.

Still kicking are sisters Martha and Loretta.

Olee learned carpentry at an early age from her father, whom she said really wanted a boy, so treated her as one.

She graduated from Trego High School in 1945, took studies from Lasalle University, and some time later obtained an associate's degree and went to the University of Idaho.

She married Walter Oct. 31, 1953. Not realizing the significance of the date until after they wed, Olee didn't "go suck an elbow." She celebrated the uniqueness of their shared date with trick-or-treaters for years to come. She and Walt spent many an evening cutting a rug to Olee's favorite polka music! Walt's career in agricultural engineering took them to Genesee.

She worked for many years as an accountant for Hayden and Ross in Moscow, then worked as an independent accountant for years after that.

Olee also launched a few businesses of her own. One such venture was after acquiring her prized sourdough start from a couple from Alaska. This 174-year-old start and recipe created many an amazing bread loaf and cinnamon roll. Her grandkids urged her to begin Olee's Own and, with the entrepreneurial spirit of a champ, she supplied Buy Idaho and a few other southern Idaho specialty stores with the sourdough start and recipes to the bread and rolls.

Olee loved her family and spent summers on the long road trip back to Kansas to visit her brothers and sisters and their families. She was beloved by all the nieces and nephews. Olee's grandkids were fortunate enough to make the pilgrimage, with the recreational vehicle in tow as well.

Olee filled her time with her love of quilting, serving in many capacities at St. John's Lutheran Church in Genesee and later years at the Senior Center. The Genesee community was her second (or really third) family.

Please join St. John's and Olee's family in celebrating her life at a memorial service scheduled for 7 p.m. today at St. John's Lutheran Church at 648 Ash St. in Genesee. Olee will be laid to rest in WaKeeney, Kan., over Labor Day. Please send memorials to the Genesee Senior Center.

The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses, doctors and staff at Gritman who comforted Olee with tremendous compassion and dignity and showed her family and friends remarkable hospitality.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel of Moscow and online condolences may be left at www.shortsfuneralchapel.com.

Lewiston Tribune May 30, 2014