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Cynthia Oliver, 85

Cynthia Oliver, 85, formerly of Fairmount, N.D., died Sunday, June 7, 2009 at Willamette Valley Medical Center, McMinnville, Ore.

A memorial service will be held for Cynthia Oliver on Monday, June 15, 2009 at 2 p.m. at McMinnville Cooperative Ministries. Private interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Wahpeton, N.D.

Cynthia Iris Oliver was born July 24, 1924 in Fairmount to Edwin and Laura Kruskop Moore. She was raised on a farm in Doran, Minn., the eldest of eight children. After graduating from high school in Breckinridge, Minn., Cynthia moved to Chicago, Ill. and worked as a secretary. She met Robert Oliver at a dance in Wahpeton and they were married Sept. 3, 1948 in Doran. Known affectionately to Bob as “Iris,” they had three children.

Their young family enjoyed many memorable summer gatherings at Ottertail Lake. In the summer of 1964, they packed their belongings into a small trailer and moved to Oregon, eventually settling in McMinnville in 1968. Cynthia worked for Hagen-Hamilton Insurance for 16 years and even after retirement continued to attend their monthly luncheons.

She possessed a joy for life and had a wide range of interests. Central among them was her love for her family and her faith. A longtime active member of the McMinnville United Methodist Church, Cynthia taught Sunday school, helped with the annual rummage sale and was a member of the United Methodist Women’s organization. Cynthia was also a Girl Scout leader and loved to bake chocolate chip cookies, garden, and dry flowers, which she used to create beautiful cards for her family and friends.

The final years of her life were spent sharing her special brand of kindness, caring and compassion with her extended Alterra/The Villas family. She was universally loved and admired and will be missed by all who knew her.

Cynthia is survived by: a son, Richard Lee (Karen) Oliver, Vancouver, Wash.; daughters, Dianne Faye (Bob) Olson, Eugene, Ore., and Colleen Jo (Tom) Zmolek, Port Townsend, Wash.; brothers, Merrel Moore, Underwood, Minn.; Verel Moore, Brandon, Minn.; Donald Moore, Pamona, Calif.; and Dale Moore, Colorado Springs, Colo.; sisters, Shirley Reigh, Needles, Calif., and Faye Kringstad, Bismark, N.D.; grandchildren, Travis (Maridee), Wendy, Kailee, and Kelsey, great granddaughter Bailee. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert in 2002 and by a brother, Hugh Moore.

Memorial contributions may be made to the McMinnville Cooperative Ministries c/o Macy and Son. To leave online condolences, please visit www.macyandson.com.