Richard Merrill Olfert

April 25, 1926 - September 11, 2018
Richard Merrill Olfert

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Richard Merrill Olfert was born to Abram Olfert and Anna Peters Olfert on April 25, 1926, in the rural community of Lustre, Montana. In 1945 at the age of 18, he was drafted into the army and served for a year in the Philippines. Afterwards, he attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1951.

After working for the State Department at the Pentagon in 1952, Richard began his 25-year teaching career at Salem Academy in Salem, Oregon. He obtained a Master of Education degree from Oregon State University and a Master of Political Science degree from The University of North Dakota. He taught political science and history at Salem Academy, Glasgow High School in Glasgow, Montana, and Mayville State College in Mayville, North Dakota.

On August 1, 1964, Richard married Eva Fadenrecht Schroeder, a young widow with two sons, Warren and Carl, whom he adopted. In January of 1968, their daughter Karen was born. In 1980, they moved to Greenville, South Carolina where he and Eva lived until 2002, when they moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina. Richard was a Godly man of great integrity who held a deep and committed belief in God throughout his life. He knew Jesus Christ personally, his Savior and Redeemer. He and his family were members of the Presbyterian Church in America and the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denominations for more than 35 years.

Richard was preceded in death by his father, mother, and infant sister. He is survived by his wife, Eva, of Hendersonville; son, Warren and daughter-in-law, Jeannie; granddaughter, Rebecca and husband, Chris, of Fargo, North Dakota; granddaughter, Stephanie of Seattle, Washington; son, Carl and daughter-in-law Jennifer; granddaughters, Lindsey and husband Thomas; Rachel and husband Joel; and Eva of Turlock, California; daughter, Karen and grandsons, Douglas and William of Hendersonville; and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, November 3, 2018 at Reformation Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville. Friends will be received at a reception after the service in Kirkside Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to PRCC/Chaplain Ministries, c/o Mission to North America, P.O. Box 890233, Charlotte NC, 28289-0233.


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