By Rowena Oerke Jones
Mother's life went downhill following her 80th birthday party. In fact, on Valentine's Day, less than three months later, she fell in her apartment and broke her hip. After surgery and recovery in the hospital, she was sent to Stafford Nursing Home in Wichita.
While at Stafford, Mother spent the time playing games with the other patients, making crafts and visiting. She was contented, but her time of post-surgery recuperation had passed, so she was dismissed to go home.
She was making progress, which pleased us; but when she was home alone, she lacked the contacts she had made and the days were lonely. To our surprise, she asked to return to the nursing home. I suppose we should have been grateful for that, because we didn't carry the guilt that many families do when they admit their loved ones.
After a month at home, Mother returned to Stafford. The nurses and staff welcomed her. This time she had a choice, and she was doing what she wanted to do. It didn't take her long to involve herself wherever she could. The craft room became her retreat. She also enjoyed playing games, particularly dominoes. She was happy there.
It didn't take long for us to find out why she was contented. She had met a man who liked to do what she liked to do. His name was Orville Settlemeier. They spent the otherwise lonely hours in conversation and activities they both enjoyed. He and she were named the King and Queen for a special occasion.
During this contented time in Mother's life, our family got together for a reunion at the Brown Grill in Wichita. We had reserved a room just for us so that we could share family experiences. It was during this dinner that Mother beamed with happiness. It was fun for us to tease her about Orville, and she loved every minute of it.
Not long afterwards, Orville became sick, and the two of them were unable to spend time together. After he passed away, Mother seemed to lose interest in the activities at the nursing home. It was time for a change, so we moved her to the Catholic Center for the Aging. She had a renewed interest, because of the church activities there. However, her health and mind were failing.
It was during this time that she was able to leave the home on occasional trips to Cedar Vale, Kansas, Norman, Oklahoma, and even to her grandson David's wedding in South Dakota.
Soon time had taken its toll. She could no longer be the active person she had always been. In March of 1985, Mother was taken to Norman to live her last days. She passed away during her sleep on May 14, 1985, at the age of 87-1/2 years. She was buried alongside her husband in the Oerke plot at Kingfisher, Oklahoma.
A fitting tribute to Mother's life could be the words she wrote to another family at their time of sorrow.
She "fought a good fight and finished the course, therefore there is laid up for her treasures in heaven." So, in your sorrow, rejoice for her. Treasure your memories.
Nanetah Oerke
Family services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the First United Methodist Church Chapel, Kingfisher, with the Rev. James Gragg officiating. Burial will be in the Kingfisher Cemetery with Sander's Funeral Service in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Oerke was born in Clarence, MO, on Nov. 16, 1897, the oldest daughter of George and Minnie Massey. Following the death of her husband in 1959, Mrs. Oerke fulfilled her lifetime ambition to become a full-time Christian missionary. She served as a voluntary missionary in the library of the Centennial Presbyterian Seminary in Vitoria, Brazil.
Survivors other than her daughter are four other children, Mrs. Gladys L. Compton of Wichita, Kan., George W. Oerke of Wooster, Ohio, Kenneth V. Oerke of Madrid, Spain, and Marvin N. Oerke of Texline, Texas; 14 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Sara H. Welch of Wichita.
