Herman Willi Otto Ballenthin
Born: 4-14-1902
Died: 3-13-57
Married Edna Olp on 6-14-1933, Faribault, MN

Edna Adeline Louise Olp
Born: 12-31-1908
Died: 12-3-99

Both are buried in Meadow Ridge Cemetary, Faribault, MN

Child: Sandra Susan
Grandchildren: Laura Lee, Tina Louise

The Story

Mother passed away Dec. 3, at 11:00 p.m. She was doing fairly well until approx. 6:00 a.m. the same day. She fought the respiratory failure very hard all day and we were somewhat hopeful, but her physician didn't give false hope. Of her many hospitalizations through the years, the pneumonia and respiratory problems were the scariest. She had successfully beaten it back many times throughout the years, but this time it just wasn't to be.

Despite her age, she had planned on turning 91 and seeing the millenium. Her Christmas candy sits marked with names for delivery. She bought a new outfit. We had fought the establishment hard for the rights of the handicapped and elderly. She was blessed to be in her home except for the last 2.5 days and didn't leave this world alone. She was responsive and communicating to the end. Her greatest gift has been retention of mental and emotional accuity. A real tough act for a child to follow. The void is immense already.

Below is the text my younger daughter gave for the immediate family. Mother had scripted her funeral, but we snuck a few eulogies in. I don't think she'd have minded. Her oldest godchild and a nephew spoke of her role as a sister, godmother and sister-in-law. She also had the first female casket bearer in our family - a pioneer even in death. She represented her one living sister's family.

Here is the family's recap of her life and the eulogy text as given by granddaughter, Tina...
Edna Olp, born 12/31/08, fifth of six daughters born to Otto and Minnie (Zeise) Olp, in Deerfield Township, Steele County, MN. Edna attended Deerfield country school, beginning at age five for grades 1-6. In grades 7-8, she attended St. John’s Lutheran School in Owatonna for academics and confirmation instruction, returning to the country school for April-May. She boarded with Marvin Wegner at the William Dulitz’s home for $3/wk.

Life on the small 80 acre farm was hard work, but filled with busy family experiences. Raising wheat, corn, oats, and animals, eggs were sold to Kelley’s for grocery money and “Kelley Dollars” for other staples. Except for dairy, coffee/tea, flour, and liver, farming provided all food. Buggy and wagon with two horses provided all transportation.

After confirmation, Edna stayed home a year. Then, living with her older sister Emma and her husband Fred at their Owatonna home on Prospect St., she attended Owatonna High School for grade 9 at age 16. After returning home on the farm, she met Herman Ballenthin through friends. Herman arranged employment for Edna and her older sister Frieda with his employer, St. Mary’s Hall in Faribault in 1925. They lived in the main school building. On June 14, 1933, Edna married Herman in Trinity Lutheran Church. After living the summer in a second floor, two bedroom apartment, they rented a house on Willow St., Faribault. In the winter of 1933-34, they bought a house at 617 NE 5th St. for $300. In the summer of 1934, St. Mary’s offered a house on campus to Edna and Herman, which they gladly accepted and rented the 5th St. home.

Edna continued working in the school dining and housekeeping areas, often working with the headmistress. In 1943, Herman and Edna adopted a 10 month old girl from the Children’s Home Society in Minneapolis. She was christened Sandra Susan Ballenthin.

As a member and officer of the Operating Engineer’s organization and auxiliary, Trinity Lutheran Church offices and organization, and family activities, life was bliss until Edna was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1952.

This slow progressing disease had caused Edna to quit work, when the one kidney Herman had, began failing. It’s believed that during an illness and high fever in his teens, he lost the use of one kidney. On March 13, 1957, he died of uremia.

Edna and Sandy lived at the school until the fall of 1957, when they moved to the house on 5th St. Edna remodeled the upstairs to a rental apartment. She sold magazine subscriptions as an area representative from her home until her retirement. Whenever requested, she also acted as a multiple sclerosis spokesperson.

By 1962, the MS required her to use canes, and forced her to a wheelchair for Sandy’s wedding. She has been confined to a hospital bed in her home since 1976, when she broke her knee. Home health care aides helped her live at home since this time. Despite her illness, she was an active godmother to five godchildren, and loving mother and grandmother to Sandy, and her two children, Laura Lee and Tina Louise Van Erp.

Eulogy: - Tina Van Erp Granddaughter
Speaking for immediate family
"In the book, Tuesdays with Morrie, it says, "Death ends a life, not a relationship."

My Grandma was the first pioneer I have ever known. Throughout my life, the most often used word when people spoke of my grandma was "amazing". But, I grew to know that to be that amazing, it takes an equal amount of humanness. My Grandma was as human as she was amazing. She taught me that the smallest things are the most important. She taught me that your life’s routines have enough power to ground you in difficult times, to heal you when you are sick, and to give direction to a life not chosen.

She taught me to be with a handicap, and not to be the handicap.

She taught me that, no matter how much food you have for the holiday meal, it is still important to have the green jello salad, because it’s our favorite.

She taught me that growing old can be graceful and subtle. She taught me that no matter how old you are physically, you can still be cute, you can still be funny, and that the essence of who you are and who you believe in can be stronger than any physical difficulty.

By watching her, I learned acceptance and action in life. My relationship with her taught me that you can find friends in family. My Grandma was stubborn, strong in her opinions, and set in her ways. But her ways allowed me the honor and privilege of having her in my life for 32 years. Her 47 years with multiple sclerosis created a unique challenge and responsibility in our family. Through it, we grew; we loved; and we learned intimately how to love and respect each other. ** I have been blessed to have known her. ** I miss her. **

But, it’s all quite simple now. Because, once, my Grandma sent 14 guardian angels with me as I traveled (in Europe). Now, I have 15.

Because of my Grandma’s MS, I knew that each day could be the last day I would see her. But that’s true for all of us. Since I was a small child, every time I left my Grandma’s house, the last words between us were I love you. Because it is important that those you love, know it. My Grandma loves us, and we love her. And, we are fortunate that we know this to be true."

Eulogy: Shirley Krupp Van Guilder
Niece and Godchild
Speaking for the "sister’s" children/godchildren

Hi, I’m Shirley Van Guilder. I’m Emil and Frieda Krupp’s daughter, in case you don’t recognize me. Haven’t been here for a while. I want to say a few words about my Aunt Edna.

Edna Ballenthin was first a daughter and a sister. Then a wife, mother and grandmother. She did all them so very well. As a daughter, she had to carry her weight on the farm, as did all of her sisters. They, the sisters, made decisions together all of their lives. Edna and my Mom would talk on the phone almost every day. Sometimes at length… which didn’t always go over very well with Emil, my Dad.

Edna loved her family so very much, and was always interested in whatever they were doing. To we eight (cousins), she was auntie and godmother. She was extraordinary. She was brave, courageous and strong willed and an example to us all. I just can’t feel sad for her. She’s up in heaven, walking, after 40+ years, with MS. She’s greeting all of her sisters, her husband, parents and friends. I can feel her joy. I’m so privileged to have known her. She made a difference. She will be missed by all. Your godchild, Shirley

James Ballenthin
Nephew
Speaking for Willi Ballenthin family, including two godchildren

I’d like to describe for you two small portraits, and then a small vision.

The first portrait was a portrait that was started before I was born. It was a portrait drawn in part by a brother-in-law and shared with a sister-in-law. Edna was my aunt, I was her nephew, Willi Ballenthin was her brother-in-law. As I mentioned, this portrait was started before I was born. My first glimpse of it occurred as a small child back in the 1950s. It was a portrait of respect, a portrait of honor, a portrait of appreciation, a portrait of thankfulness, and perhaps most of all, a portrait of love. My Dad and my Aunt Edna shared many, many days together. Especially after my Mother died, my Dad was a regular visitor of Edna and virtually every week that I came down to Faribault, he said, "let’s visit Edna". That portrait truly was a portrait of love and I think only Edna and Willi really knew the dimensions.

The second portrait is one that started with my birth. As my aunt, Edna was one of the few people throughout my whole life that continued to call me by my childhood name of "Jaimie". She did this every time she saw me. She addressed her cards to me with those words, and she addressed her love to me with those words. That’s a very special small portrait of my Aunt Edna.

The last is a vision. As I stand here today, I feel proud to be part of a church that is soul saving and soul seeking. A church that reaches out. And there are three small parables that just reminded me today in part of who Edna was, who she is, and what’s happening today that we can share a part of.

The first was a parable of the widow who lost her mite. Who searched and searched and we just know the joy, the joy she found when she found that last mite, the only mite she had. The second parable is the parable of the 99 and the one lost sheep and the shepherd, going out and searching for that lost sheep until finally the shepherd could bring that sheep home. And the last, perhaps a little bit more strange, is the parable of the prodigal son and what joy the father felt, what joy was felt in that household when that son returned home.

I feel confident today that we can celebrate with all the angels in heaven, we can celebrate with Jesus and God himself, because Edna, has finally, come home.

Newspaper Obituary

Boldt Funeral Home Memorial Folder and Trinity Lutheran Church Service Folder

Grace, mercy and peace from our Lord who said: "I am the Resurrection and the Life, whoever believes in me though he may die, yet shall he live... [in his Name] Amen.

We gather here today. dear family and friends to celebrate the life of our sister in Christ, Edna Ballenthin, and find in God's Word comfort and guidance for this moment. Edna had done much of the preparation for this Service - the hymns in particular and our sermon text were of her choice. For example, this last hymn - "Oh for a faith that will not shrink, Tho' pressed by many a foe, that will not tremble air the brink of poverty or woe, That will not murmur nor complain beneath the chast¹ning rod, but in the hour of grief or pain can lean upon its God."

This hymn hung on a wall plaque positioned so that she could gain comfort from it while she was left immobile in her bed for some many years. What strength it gave to her, she wanted to share with us today.

So also our text today, was a Psalm of Promise and of strength to her and may it be for us today. Psalm 23 has gained immortality because of its tender charm in each verse. its simple language and undoubting peace and trust in the - guidance of God as a Good Shepherd has made many think that King David, the young shepherd boy had composed it early in his life. Yet, many a scholar has said that we should look closer at this Psalm, and see that it is not the optimistic hope of a young person, but rather, it is a declaration of faith of one who is now old and has fought a good many battles in life and seen sorrow and hardship and still with the weight of the loss of strength in declining years, has a confidence that God will still provide and protect until life's end...and take at last, the believer into eternal glory and rest.

1. God, the Good Shepherd provides for his people = v1 -3
2. God, the Good Shepherd protects his people at the hour of death = v4
3. God, the Good Shepherd [King] brings his people home to Him = v5,6

1. God is the Good and caring shepherd who provides for all who will follow His voice. v1-3

A. King David in these first three verses is making a precious statement of faith. We are not led by our own resources in life, we are led by a caring and loving God who has made us and calls us his own. This God, as a caring Shepherd, not only leads and feeds the sheep but knows them by name.

B. Of all people, David could have been one of those individuals who could have made a case for beings a strong willed and self made man. From his youth he fought bears and wolves for the safety of his sheep, and who can forget his stand against Goliath? He had brought the children of Israel from the shadows of darkness under old King Saul who lost battle after battle to the Philistines into an era of power and victory as Israel became the greatest single nations of the earth and 0 under David's winning leadership. From humble shepherd boy to the number one leader of the western world, David could have made a case for his own will and resources. But if he would have done that, then certainly he would wandered from the ways of the Lord. Instead he writes that not only was God his provider but he also led him to know that he needed a Savior. He restores my soul, He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Namesake As resource full and powerful was David was, he knew that he was not able to stand before a God, whose very name means HOLY and PERFECT, - RIGHTEOUS.

C. So David looked forward to the coming of the Savior as he writes of in the Psalm before this one - Psalm 22 - tells of the Savior and his work or redemption for the sins of the World. [vv17, 18 and 22-25. 3 1]

D. This was the faith also our sister in Christ, Edna. She was also a woman who had learned to become resourceful and to survive many a blow of life by the quiet determination. When she lost her husband in 1957, just a month and a few days before confirmation, Sandra still recalls her determination to make sure that she would have a regular confirmation celebration.

Later, when MS started to takes its toll, she turned the house into apts. and took to selling magazines which she would do at home. She was capable of managing even when Sandra had to seek work in the cities. And as you speak to her granddaughters, they would say that she never allowed her illness to get in the way of being a grandmother who cared for them. She even used her illness to teach them caring and concern for others. She was always grateful and thankful for the folks who came to visit and those especially who were her care providers from 1977 to the present. But most of all, she was comfortable about sharing her faith. She could tell her family that she was looking forward to being with the Lord, whom she knew had purchased and won her from all sin from death and from the power of the devil.

2. Because Christ is our Good shepherd who died to save us, we can faced death, knowing that He will take us to life everlasting. v4

A. God calls death for his sheep a "valley of shadows" . Shadows are often dangerous looking, when we see them they hold warning of trouble standing in our way, trouble so large and powerful we can not defeat it on our own. Yet, Jesus faced death for us. He overcame deaths power to hold. He broke Satin's greatest weapon... and now death has no fear for those who walk with Jesus. "His rod and His staff "- comforts us. Easter swallowed up death in victory and turned it into only a shadow problem.

B. After the Wright brothers had finally made their flimsy plane life itself off the sands of the beach at Kitty Hawk~ N. Carolina on Dec. 17th, 1903, they sent a telegram to Dayton Oh telling of their success and then they ended the telegram with two words "HOME CHRISTMAS". How touching those two words are for the Christian. Edna has now, the grace of God been taken to her real home for Christmas. And in case we might be prone to miss her too badly, King David goes on to describe what it is like to be a home with the Lord.

3. God our king invites us to his banquet feast, the feast of the Lamb, in these words. v5,6

A. Jesus himself came from that eternal hall of glory and step into our world, in order to make sure that we would know that God had made it possible for us to live an eternity with Him. So now, our present problems can not last and now our troubles and woes have a limited time in which to press us while we are here, because there is an eternity of joy and peace ahead. Jesus came to show us and returned to welcome us to himself. Edna not only shared with believers down through the ages this faith, but she willed it to you - dear family.

B. No matter what trouble or trails comes our way may we all be able to handle it with the dignity and determination of your mother and grandmother... but may we also possess that faith which give us the strength to do so: as we sang: Lord, give us such a faith as this, and then whate'er may come We'll taste e'en now the hallowed bless of an eternal home. Amen

1972 cir. picture of Olp sisters

Olp-Zeise Home Page