Margaret Olfert

Margaret was born on November 17th, 1929 in Grunthal Manitoba, to her parents Henry and Margaretha Wiens. She was named after her mother. She was the youngest child, having two brothers and one sister. Her parents were immigrants, but all the children were born in Canada. When Margaret was a young child, her parents moved to McCreary Manitoba to start farming. Margaret attended school and always said that she had to walk a long way to get there. If by chance her dad had errands to run, she occasionally was able to get a ride by horse and wagon. Margaret loved school and was very friendly. She was known by many as “smiling Maggie”.

As she got older, her siblings got married and she was the farm hand. She would help milk cows, feed chickens and help with the grain harvest. Her father wasn't too excited when she was courting, because he knew she would soon be married and he would have to find another helper. Margaret courted Isaac Olfert. He was from a large family and had been farming there as well. In the off season, Isaac went to Ontario and worked in the bush, chopping wood and cooking in a camp, to earn extra money. Margaret received a watch from Isaac the year before their marriage.

Isaac and Margaret were married on October 1st 1949 in a little church in McCreary. They moved to a farm that Isaac had bought and began their lives together. They had their first child on May 21 1951, a son named Edward. In May of 1952, they welcomed a daughter, Dorothy. Margaret was kept busy with running a small house with no modern conveniences. On September 2 1955, they welcomed another son, John.

They lived in Manitoba until 1957. At this time, Margaret’s oldest brother and his family had moved to the Okanagan valley in British Columbia. Isaac’s crops on his farm were not producing like he had hoped, so the family sold most of what they had and moved to British Columbia. With a car, three kids and some money, they moved across the prairies to the mountains. Margaret mentioned many times that she was both amazed and scared as they made their way through the windy roads and huge mountain peaks.

They settled in the small town of Oliver, British Columbia where they bought their house and Isaac was employed by TRUMP industries. He worked hard at welding and learning many new skills and soon became shop foreman. Margaret raised the children and loved baking, cooking and sewing. In 1962 on June 14th, they welcomed another daughter, Patricia.

Two years later, Margaret’s brother convinced Isaac to buy an orchard and they moved one mile out of town. In 1970, Margaret and Isaac adopted a seven year old girl. April entered the family. She was a playmate for Pat, with not even a year between them. Isaac and Margaret worked hard on the orchard during fruit season and for the winter months Isaac ran the home when Margaret worked at the local packing house and Sunnybrook care home, respectively.

On July 22 1972, Margaret and Isaac welcomed yet another daughter, Carolyn into their family. Isaac and Margaret lived on the farm until 1976, then in town until 1980 when they sold and moved to Abbotsford.

Church, gardening and hospitality would be interests of the both Isaac and Margaret. Margaret volunteered and later was manager at the MCC store. She worked there for 22 years. She loved meeting all the people and it gave her a purpose.

Isaac passed away in 2006. Margaret moved out of her home 10 years later. They welcomed 6 children, 17 grandchildren, in their 53 years together. Currently there are 11 great grandchildren added as well. Her oldest son, Ed passed away in 2016.

Margaret’s favorite Bible Verses were Psalm 27:1 and Psalm 23. Her favorite songs were How Great Thou Art, Amazing Grace, and The Love of God is Greater Far.

Margaret passed away on the morning of July 14, 2021. The family will be holding a private burial at the Maclure Rd Mennonite Cemetery. They are asking that in leu of flowers, donations be made to the MCC Memorial Fund in her name.