Marcella Oellien, age 88, of Canby, MN passed away Saturday, April 16, 2022 at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson, MN. A Memorial Service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 9, 2022 at the Antelope Hills Christian Church in Canby, MN with Rev. Steve Maas officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Antelope Hills Christian Cemetery, rural Canby. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN is entrusted with the arrangements.
Marcella Jean (Westfield) Oellien was born on June 25, 1933 to Alfred and Sylvia (Buchanan) Westfield at their home in Providence Township, Lac qui Parle County. She was a twin, the youngest of nine children. Marcella attended LqP District 24 School for eight years and then attended and graduated from Canby High School in 1951. After receiving her teaching certificate from Normal School in Madison, she taught for two years in LqP District 66 and one year in Yellow Medicine District 39. Marcella was united in marriage to Theodore William Oellien on June 13, 1954 at Antelope Hills Church of Christ, where she was a member for her entire life. After their marriage, they set up farming in Lac qui Parle County. Ted and Marcella resided on three farms before buying the Oellien farm in Freeland Township were Ted was born and raised. To this union four children were born. Family was very important to Marcella and she enjoyed all the times spent together. She loved to reminisce with her siblings and tell stories about her childhood. To say Marcella was very intense in searching her genealogy is an understatement. Between photos, stories, letters, and newspaper clippings she was able to create many family history books. She could be found puttering in her vegetable and flower gardens all summer and tending her many house plants with care. Marcella enjoyed needlework, sewing, and quilting; creating quilts for many family members, as well as mission quilts with the church group. Marcella was an avid baker and reader, enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles, playing games, and conquering a good Sudoku. Marcella worked for Stearns Manufacturing in Madison for several years and the food service at the Sanford Canby Medical Center before retiring. Marcella was active in her community; participating in Church Ladies Aid, Homemakers Club, Farm Bureau, Craft Club, and was a 4-H leader and Sunday School teacher. After she left the farm and moved into Canby, the Depot Museum was very fortunate to have Marcella on their board. She spent many hours setting up displays, doing research, and helping visitors. Marcella was a member of the Sons of Norway and the Canby Quilting Club in her later years.
God called Marcella home on April 16, 2022 at the age of 88. She had been residing at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ted, her parents, and seven of her eight siblings: Beulah Friis, Russell, Lowell, Wendell, Gerald, Beverly Frederickson, and her twin Marilyn Frederickson. Marcella is lovingly remembered by her four children; Judy (Gordy) Harris of Woodsville, NH, Cindi (Stuart) Olson of Lowry, Doug (Laura Milbrandt) Oellien of Montevideo, and Tammy Oellien of Minneapolis. Seven grandchildren: Licia (Jeremy) Oligmueller, Ashley (Allan) Onyango, Leslie Harris, Tony Harris, Amanda (Max) Patterson, Samantha Oellien, and Michael Oellien. Nine great-grandchildren: Kellan, Jaden, and Evan Oligmueller, Ollie and Owen Onyango, Logan and Addison Harris, Alexandra and Declan Patterson. One brother, Merlin of Pipestone, and one brother-in-law, Dennis Frederickson of Canby, along with many nieces and nephews.
