Esther M. Olivier

Esther M. Olivier age 92, of Sioux Center, IA died Thursday, March 5, 2020 at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center, IA. A memorial service will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 12, 2020 at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Stephen Breen officiating. Burial will be held prior to the memorial service in Hope Cemetery in Hull, IA. A prayer service will be held Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. at Memorial Funeral Home before proceeding to the cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, March 11th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with family present at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. Memorials may be directed to the Sioux Center Christian School. Esther M. Olivier was born September 8, 1927 in Lebanon, IA to Peter and Ida (Bonnema) Rynders. She graduated from Hull Western Christian High School and continued her education at Dordt College earning her teaching degree. She worked on her Master’s degree from the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, SD. Right out of high school Esther taught in Hull, Doon, and Edgerton Christian schools. After receiving her college degree, Esther taught music at the Sioux Center Christian school for 16 years. She also taught at Sheldon Christian as well as teaching some classes at Dordt College. On August 3, 1950 Esther married Arie Olivier of Hull, IA. Together they raised their family and ran a construction business in Sioux Center. Over the years she gave many piano and organ lessons and with Arie they filled that home with music. Esther was a member of the First Reformed Church in Sioux Center where she was a member of the Ruth Circle and taught Sunday School. She was active in other musical organizations for many years, she directed the handbell choir in addition to her 60 years as church organist and also directed the Farm Bureau chorus. She and Arie spent many years entertaining folks at nursing homes throughout Northwest Iowa. She enjoyed crosswords, tending to flowers and birds, and connecting with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her no-bake cookies were legendary. She is survived by her children Eileen (David) Dockter of Los Gatos, CA. Melody (Jerry) De Wit of Alton, IA and Armand J. Olivier (Jami) of Charlotte, NC; five grandchildren : Joel (April) DeWit of Rock Rapids, IA, Elliot (Jessica) DeWit of Sioux Falls, SD, David (Ashlee) DeWit of Lansing, IL, Austin Olivier and Alexis Olivier both of Charlotte, NC; eight great-grandchildren; sister Joyce Hughes of Norfolk, NE; brother Peter (Bernice) Rynders of Grand Rapids, MI; brother Ron (Karen) Rynders of Sioux Center, IA; sisters-in-law, Kathy Rynders of Fulton, IL, Gertrude Van’t Hul of Sioux Center, IA and Dorothy Bomgaars of Sioux Center, IA; brother-in-law Pierce Feenstra of Norfolk, NE; nieces, nephews, and other extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Ida Rynders; husband Arie Olivier, brother Harold Rynders, sister Mardelle Feenstra, and brother Denny Rynders; also brother-in-law John Nyhuis, sister-in-law Nell Nyhuis and brothers-in-law Nick Bomgaars and Donald Van’t Hul.