Ida Wanda Olberding, 92, of Seneca, KS, died Thursday, December 15, 2011 at her home.

She was born January 23, 1919, on a farm northwest of Kelly, the daughter of Frederick and Johanna Sudbeck Holthaus. The family relocated to a farm northwest of St. Benedict where she attended school at St. Benedict.

On April 11, 1939, she married Ben J. Olberding at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. As newlyweds the couple lived and farmed southwest of St. Benedict with Ben’s brother. Within two years they built a home and farm buildings a mile west and two miles south of St. Benedict. There they raised a family of six children, kept livestock and ran a dairy.

For many years Ida worked at St. Mary’s School. In April of 1998 Ida and Ben moved to Seneca. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and had enjoyed 59 years of marriage before Ben’s death on December 8, 1998.

Ida was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church at St. Benedict and St. Ann’s Altar Society. She belonged to several card clubs. She loved to quilt, cook, play cards, garden and do ceramics.

She is survived by her son Elton Olberding of Seneca; four daughters, Juanita Heinen of Eltopia, WA, Wanda Ackor of Colorado Springs, CO, Phyllis McCullough of Pine Dale, WY and Janet Ranieri of Seneca; two sisters, Henrietta Koch of Axtell, and Frances Broxterman of Chicago Heights, IL; 18 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband Ben, she was preceded in death by her son, Justin Olberding on March 20, 1952; grandsons, Justin Olberding on July 11, 1985 and Nathan Flemming; seven brothers, Alphonse, Aloysius, Edwin, Carl, Raymond, Lawrence and Fred Holthaus; and two sisters, Mary Holthaus and Bertha Weber.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 AM Monday, December 19, at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Sunday, December 18, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for St. Mary’s Church and Cemetery, and sent in care of the family.