Odella (Buck) Hauff

Odella Hauff, 90, of Golden Valley, ND passed away Friday, April 7, 2023 at Hilltop Home of Comfort, Killdeer, ND. Services will be held at 10:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at New Life Worship Center, Beulah with Pastor Justin Werven officiating. Burial will follow at Hope Congregational Cemetery, Golden Valley. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Odella Mae Buck was born to Lydia Rembolt Buck and John Buck on February 8th, 1933 in the middle of a North Dakota blizzard.  She was delivered by her Aunt Julie because Doctor Stokes, the local medical doctor, was not able to get to the farm.  Odella was the 6th child born to Lydia and John Buck.  Four additional daughters joined the family in the following years.

Odella went to rural school near Streeter, North Dakota through the 8th grade.  The life Odella led was quite different than what most of us are accustomed to.  Odella would often tell stories of their Christmas gifts which consisted of a fresh fruit such as an apple or an orange. During the summer months, the children would gather dried cow pies which were then burnt during the winter months and used to warm the house.  There was a total of 8 girls in the family and the girls would sleep 4 to a bed.  Odella often talked about how they would sleep crosswise and their legs would be hanging off the side of the bed.  John Buck was often in poor health so the children had to begin working at a very young age.  There were no employment laws at this time, so Odella was quite young when she would be hired out to help the neighbors or her older brothers and sisters with their children, cooking, and cleaning.  She was extremely close to many of her nieces and nephews.  She also worked at the Streeter grocery store for the Grenz family, stocking shelves, cleaning the store, and cashiering. 

So how did a young woman from Streeter ND and a young man from Golden Valley ND meet in the 1950s??  Odella met the love of her life at a church youth rally in Glen Ullin.  They were introduced by Odella’s brother-in-law Aaron Rueb.  Later on Reinhold left his Bible at another church youth convention in Streeter and Odella, jumping at the opportunity, confiscated the Bible and then waited for Reinhold to contact her.  After that, the rest is history.  They were married October 7th, 1955.  This October would have been their 68th anniversary.  Odella still has her wedding dress which was sewn by a local seamstress for $9 which included the material and labor.

Odella settled into her new life, almost 200 miles from her home town, as a helpmate to Reinhold.  She helped him in every aspect with the farming and cattle.  There was nothing she wouldn’t do – except set a mouse trap or dispose of the catch.  She loved to be outside working in the fields.  Many were the weeks that she spent cultivating corn with the H tractor, throwing shocks, stacking hay, stacking and hauling small bales or handmilking the cows.  Odella always had a large garden and she spent hours tending to the garden and then canning and freezing the produce.  Freezing was always her favorite method of preservation.  According to Odella, everything and anything could be froze. 

Odella loved being outdoors but she had many hobbies inside the home.  Odella was a fantastic cook and baker.  Her recipes are still being distributed by many people.  Anyone that stopped by or stayed at their home was always treated to a feast with many home-baked treats.  Odella was given the gift of hospitality.  She always made everyone feel welcome in their home and never turned anyone away.  Odella served as the Golden Valley Assembly of God Sunday School secretary and treasurer for over 50 years.

Odella always loved children.  She consistently watched the pastors’ children in church and the children would gravitate towards her.  The happiest times in her life were each time one of her five grandsons were born.  She welcomed each of them and so enjoyed the time she was able to care for them at the farm.  As the grandsons grew and married – Odella discovered another wonderful event – Great Grandchildren!  As the years advanced, she especially enjoyed just holding the great grandchildren and watching them play at her feet.  Odella was very proud of her great granddaughter who is her namesake, Harper Odella Sailer.

Odella is survived by her husband, Reinhold, of nearly 68 years; Daughters Cynthia M. (Kevin) Ziman of Dickinson and Connie (Kevin) Sailer of Dodge. Grandsons:  Joshua (Jane) Ziman; Jordan (Nikki) Ziman; Jade (Loni) Ziman; Jason (Lori) Sailer. Great grandchildren:  Jazmynn Ziman, Shaylynn Ziman, Emmitt Sailer, Evelyn Sailer, Harper Odella Sailer, and Baby Boy Sailer coming in September.  Also surviving Odella are her brother LeRoy (Alice) Buck; Sisters:  Cincinnati (Oscar) Rueb; Vivian Rueb Hansen; Marlys (John) Grasl; Sister in law Phyllis Graves; and brother in law LeRoy (Linda) Hauff, along with brothers in law by marriage William Crone and Dewey Huffstutler  in addition many nieces and nephews.

Welcoming Odella into heaven is her beloved grandson Justin Sailer.  Those proceeding Odella include her mother and father, Lydia and John Buck; father and mother in law, Irene and John Hauff; brother Alvin (Alida) Buck; sisters Esther (Edwin) Becker; Edna (Richard) Dockter; Virginia (Ervin) Schauer; LaVerne (Raymond) Rueb; brothers in law Aaron Rueb and Vernon Hansen; Brothers in law Eugene (Wilma) Hauff; Elmer (Darlene) Hauff; sisters in law Evelyn Hauff Crone and Virginia Hauff Huffstutler; brother in law by marriage Bennie Graves. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Samaritan's Purse.

Arrangements are conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

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