Ollie May Friesen

Ollie May Friesen, 83, of Russell, KS, died on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, KS.

Ollie was born on Nov. 21, 1936, in Gray, OK, the daughter of Frank and Belle (Vance) Leatherman. She grew up in the Balko and Gray, OK areas and graduated from Balko High School in the class of 1955.

She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Henry “Hank” Reimer Friesen on Aug. 26, 1961, in Perryton. From this union Ollie and Henry were blessed with four children: Alice, Diana, Gordon and Carol.

She worked as a waitress but the most important job to her was being wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker to her growing family.

She was a longtime member of the Church of Christ. She was also a member of Boyd Quilting Club and T.O.P.S. She enjoyed sewing, embroidering, quilting, cooking and gardening.

She most enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Henry on Feb. 14, 2008; four brothers, True, Lester, Kenneth, and Paul Leatherman; two sisters, Cora Leatherman and Joy LaTour; and a grandson, Jonathan Friesen.

Surviving family include her daughter Alice Huff and husband Danny of Miami, daughter Diana Riedel and husband Patrick of Russell, KS, son Gordon Friesen and wife Tricia of Salina, KS and daughter Carol Wykoff and husband Richard of Russell, KS; sister Eva Cowan of Perryton; grandkids Ashley Boyd, Amber Bradshaw, Jarred Riedel, Andrew Friesen and Laura Friesen; great grandchildren Averi, Addison and Ainsleigh Boyd, Wyhatte and Hunter Friesen; sisters in-law Doris Leatherman and Frankie Leatherman; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Ollie’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, KS. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell, KS. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, with family greeting guests from 6-8 p.m Thursday evening at the mortuary.

Memorials may be given to the Ollie Friesen Memorial Fund and sent in care of the mortuary, 610 N. Maple, Russell, KS 67665. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.