Olga, beloved wife of Leslie of the Calder-MacNutt district passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. She was seventy-four years of age. Olga Thies was born September 9, 1937 in the Parkerview District to parents William & Mary Protzak (nee Kolebaba). Olga attended Okno & Parkerview Schools. She was united in marriage to Leslie Thies on June 3, 1960 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Yorkton, SK. During her time living in Yorkton, Olga worked as a cook at the Yorkton Union Hospital for nineteen years. In 1977, Olga & Leslie moved to their farm south of Calder. During the next thirty-four years, Olga spent her time on the farm growing bountiful gardens, and cooking and baking for her family, friends, and neighbours. She always had time to make coffee or lunch for anyone who visited her home, often entertaining family or neighbours to card-playing lunches and "after curling bonspiel" parties. Olga was also well known for the trays of Christmas baking she would prepare. Olga was a great friend, and always took the time to visit with people, even if it meant delaying her own plans. She had an infectious laugh and could make anyone smile while telling stories of her life, and her many farming escapades with Leslie. During the later years of her life, Olga enjoyed knitting dishcloths, and doing search-a-word puzzles. Her faith in God carried her through many challenges and she accepted things as they came to her, never complaining. Olga was predeceased by her mother, Mary Protzak and parents-in-law Otto & Molly Thies. She is survived by her loving family, her husband of fifty-one years, Leslie; son Barry of Yorkton; daughter Kimberley (Earl) Pfeifer of Kamsack; and one very special granddaughter Brittany; father William Protzak; brother Orest (Veronica) Protzak; sisters Ann Bobyk, Iris (Taras) Berezny, Sylvia (Stan) Rashbrook; "adopted" children Char & Randy Slager; sisters-in-law Muriel Eisner, Edna Melnick and Esther Pippus; and numerous nieces and nephews. Prayers were held on Sunday evening, November 20, 2011 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre. The funeral service was held on Monday, November 21, 2011 from Zion Lutheran Church in Yorkton. Rev. Daniel Moeller officiated, assisted by Vicar James Prophet. Char Slager gave a tribute to Olga. Organist, Verna Liebrecht led the congregation in the singing of the hymns 'Beautiful Savior', 'Just As I Am' and 'Amazing Grace'. The interment followed in the Garden of St. John at the Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Rodney Flunder, Wayne Rathgeber, Bob Laidlaw, Charles Melnick, Randy Slager and Rick Fatteicher serving as the casketbearers. Arrangements were in care of Bailey's Funeral Home.
