Olive Antonia "Lollie" Odell

Olive "Lollie" Odell, 92, Spearfish, and formerly of Camp Crook, passed away on Sunday, July 25, 2010, at the Spearfish Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held Saturday, July 31, 2010, at the Little Missouri Lutheran Church at Capitol, Mont., with the Rev. Susan Fox officiating. Interment followed in the old Capitol Cemetery.

Olive Antonia "Lollie" Overn was born on May 2, 1918, at the family homestead near Capitol, Mont., to Theodore and Clara K. (Melum) Overn. Lollie grew up on the family ranch. She attended grade school through the eighth grade at Capitol. As a freshman, she attended high school in Belle Fourche, but became homesick and quit school. When Lollie returned home, she babysat for her aunt, Thelma Bye. During the summer that she turned 18, Lollie traveled by bus to Glacier National Park, where she worked for her Aunt Nettie as a waitress and maid. At the age of 19, she enrolled in high school at Ekalaka, but did not graduate. She did complete her GED many years later, at the age of 70.

Lollie and Melvin Eugene Odell were married at the Lutheran Church in Baker, Mont., on Jan. 29, 1939. This union was blessed with six children: Carol, Charles, Kathy, Melvin Jr "Gene," Steve and Michael. Following their marriage, Lollie and Melvin rented the Robert Brakke place on Tie Creek, living there from 1939 until 1946. They moved to Capitol until 1947, when they moved to a ranch near Camp Crook. In 1949, Lollie and Melvin bought the Belltower Store 20 miles west of Camp Crook, which they operated with Melvin as the postmaster. In 1950, they sold the store and returned to the ranch at Camp Crook, where they made their home. In 1970, they moved into Camp Crook. In June 2007, Lollie moved to Spearfish where she lived until her death.

Lollie loved children, and from the age of 15 was a caregiver to well over 70 children in the Camp Crook, Capitol, Belltower and Ekalaka communities. Lollie enjoyed photography, gardening and her flower gardens. She had a green thumb and was able to make things grow, even on the gumbo plains of western South Dakota and southeastern Montana. Other hobbies Lollie had included embroidery and crocheting afghans. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading and staying updated on current events. Lollie was a member of the Little Missouri Lutheran Church, Good Hope Ladies Aide and the VFW Auxiliary. For many years she wrote the Camp Crook news for the Ekalaka Eagle, Nations Center News and the Belle Fourche Post and Bee. Lollie was a talented and hard-working person. Her greatest love in life was for her family. Lollie was extremely proud of her children and their accomplishments.

Lollie is survived by her children, Carol (Robert) Smith, Freeman, Charles (Karen) Odell, Camp Crook, Kathy (Frank) Loehding, Sidney, Mont., Gene (Carol) Odell, Camp Crook, Steve Odell, Camp Crook, and Michael (Elizabeth) Odell, Clearwater, Neb.; one brother, Maurice Overn, Spearfish; two sisters, Carrie Major, Montrose, Colo., and Clarice Curry, Baker, Mont.; 11 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Clara; her husband, Melvin; two brothers, James Overn and Chet Overn; a sister, Inez Johnson; and two grandsons, Danny Smith and Trevor Odell.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Stevenson Funeral Home of Ekalaka, Mont.