February 5, 1934 - August 29, 2025
Opening Statement
With love and gratitude for a life well lived, the family of Olga Sanders Whitaker announces her passing on August 29, 2025, at the age of 91.
Early Life
Olga was born on February 5, 1934, in Elgin, Oregon, to Herbert Joshua Sanders and Arvilla Bernice Wangsgaard Sanders.
Her father was widowed in 1929 with four young children, and her mother was widowed in 1928 with a newborn. They met in October 1929, married in December, and together raised 11 more children. Olga was number nine in this remarkable blended family of 16 children.
When Olga was an infant, her family moved to Ogden, Utah. At age three, they returned to Elgin. With the outbreak of World War II, her father went to Oakland, California, to work at the shipyards, and in 1944 the family relocated there to be together. After the war, they moved to Nyssa, Oregon. Olga attended high school in Ontario and Nyssa, graduating from Nyssa High School in 1952.
Marriage & Family
In 1951, Olga met Allen Max Whitaker at a church dance. On her 18th birthday, Max gave her a diamond ring, and they were married on August 8, 1952, in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Together, Max and Olga raised eight children on their farm west of Vale, Oregon: three sons—Lowell, Stanley, and Christopher; and five daughters—Mona, Jacki, Irene, Connie, and Darlene. They also lovingly remembered their stillborn daughter, Angela.
Life on the farm was full of lessons and hard work. All of the children learned to milk cows, feed calves, drive pickups and tractors, and manage farm responsibilities. Olga taught her daughters to keep house, cook, and sew.
Faith, Service & Creativity
A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Olga served as a Cub Scout den leader, Young Women’s President, and Primary Presidency counselor.
She enjoyed writing and created roadshows for youth, a church pageant for the Sesquicentennial celebration, and countless skits for Girls Camp. She also shared her humor through stand-up routines and readings at church parties, weddings, and community events.
Throughout her life, Olga wrote poems for family and friends, published song lyrics, and contributed newspaper columns. She found joy in laughter and loved to make others smile.
Survivors & Preceded in Death
Survived by:
- Children: Lowell Allen (Ruth) Whitaker, Mona Lee (Doug) Searle, Stanley John (Nancy) Whitaker, Jacki Lin (Michael) Weideman, Irene Kay (Arthur) Winters, Connie Rae (Robert) King, Darlene Mae (Scott) Butler, and Christopher Max (Amanda) Whitaker
- Siblings: Joe, Jim, George, David, Barbara, Virginia, and Christine
- 32 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, along with all spouses of children and grandchildren
Preceded in death by:
- Husband: Allen Max Whitaker
- Parents: Herbert and Arvilla Sanders
- Five brothers and four sisters
- Daughter: Angela (stillborn)
- Two stillborn great-grandsons
Service Information
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the LDS Church in Vale, Oregon.
A brief graveside ceremony will take place earlier the same day at 11:00 a.m. at the Vale Cemetery.
Arrangements: Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel
Closing Tribute
“I love my dear husband more than anything in the world and I hope to be with him through all eternity. I love my sweet children and their precious families. I will be waiting for them, with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”
