Eunice Marie Oltjenbruns

Eunice Marie Krueger Oltjenbruns

Eunice was the seventh child born to Simon and Ida VanBoening Krueger on October 5, 1927 at the family home near Blue Hill, Nebraska.  Her Christian faith carried her through life and she passed from this life on earth on April 19, 2018, surrounded by family. She was baptized in Trinity Lutheran Church, Blue Hill, Nebraska on October 13, 1927. In 1930, after a fire in their home, Eunice moved with her parents to a farm southeast of Amherst, Colorado. She attended St. Paul’s Parochial School in Amherst and was confirmed into the Lutheran faith on April 6, 1941. She then attended 2 years of High School in Amherst Public School, but due to World War II, and the rationing of gas and tires, she was unable to continue High School. Ultimately, when the opportunity came available, she and her husband, Elton, attended night classes and both obtained their GED in 1970. Eunice was involved with the Ladies Aid at St. Paul’s during the war and baked cakes to take to the North Platte Canteen. She and Elton Oltjenbruns were married on March 9, 1947 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Amherst. They lived and raised their four daughters on a farm southwest of Amherst for 33 years. When Elton became a Phillips County Commissioner, they moved into their current home in Holyoke in 1980, where she enjoyed gardening vegetables, flowers and grapes.

Eunice was very active in helping young people: She taught Sunday school for many years, she was a 4-H leader for 12 years, a FHA mother advisor for 6 years and was made an Honorary Mother of the Holyoke FHA in 1973. She always made it a point to attend the Spring Tea when the officers were installed. Eunice was always aware of her blessings and served the Lord as a member of the St. Paul’s Ladies Aid where she held offices and also served 2 years as President of the Northeast Zone LWML. After her marriage to a veteran, Elton, she joined the American Legion Auxiliary and held all major offices, at the local, District, and State level. She was a member of the Amherst Mothers Club, the Amicus Federated Club and the UNIDO Extension Club. She volunteered many years as a Girls State Councilor. She was Aunt Eunice to many nieces and nephews and often their caretaker when their moms and dads went to town shopping.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ida and Simon, her husband of 69 years, Elton, her brothers Andrew, Chester, Russell and Bill Krueger. Her sisters, Leona Brinkema, Lucia Vieselmeyer, Laurine Ackerman, and Ida Neirman and her son-in-law Ken Roll.
She is survived by her four daughters, Susan and husband Larry Walters, Sally and her husband Don Saling, Jeri and her husband Terry Jones, and Teri and her husband Harold Boyd. Seven grandchildren, Michelle Roll and her 2 sons Drew and Adam Minor, Jeff and Laura Roll and children, Alyssa and Beau Steib, and great great grandson Jameson Steib, Zachary and Latasha Roll, and Emma Roll, Angela and Jay Stephenson and children Tyler, Reagan and Aria, Stephen and Lisa Saling and children Isabel and Vaughn, Scott and Kelly Saling and son Elliott, Carrie and Jonathan Kraft, and Jamie Roll and Chris Reyes and their daughter Evie. She is survived by her brothers Jay Dean and Joyce Krueger, Dan and Carol Krueger and sister-in-law Donna Krueger, along with many nieces, nephews and friends. She was dearly loved and will be especially missed. 

Page 2: In lieu of flowers, memorial are preferred: Concordia University at Seward, Nebraska, Orphan Grain Train, Julesburg, Colorado, Northeast Zone LLL Scholarship fund, Melissa Memorial Hospital Foundation ,

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eunice Marie Oltjenbruns, please visit our floral store.