Olga Markovich

Olga (née Walchuk) Markovich, a loving mother and doting grandmother, passed away on August 13, 2024, peacefully at home.

Until one week before she died, she was still playing cards and Yahtzee with her favorite competitor and son-in-law, Warner Hendrickson. She will be long remembered as a true friend, artist, beautician, jigsaw puzzle aficionado. Above all, she had this natural brilliance that made every visit to her residence a cherished moment. She treated every visitor like a king or queen. Everyone was offered coffee, pop, cake and cookies. You were the focus of her attention. She had a special magic with dice and Warner often accused her of cheating while playing at her kitchen table. That could get her dander up, but the two had a wonderful relationship except when there were bragging rights involved. Often, she would tell friends how blessed she was to be able to stay in her home, thanks to her daughter Denise and Warner. Also, Olga's daughter Lynn spent the weekends with her mom. It wasn't a sacrifice assisting their mom. It was a love story. In later years, she walked with a walker but that didn't slow her down a bit. Even at 101, Olga was still an artist and mailed out her treasured greeting cards with great cheer and spreading God's love. Almost everyone saved them. They were mostly colored-pencil sketches. Had she gone professionally, she would have put a dent in the sales of Hallmark greeting cards. Her penmanship had been graced by the Catholic nuns back in the 1920s and early 1930s.

 Olga Walchuk was born on November 25, 1922, in Minneapolis to Julie and William Walchuk. She grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from North High School and Beauty School at the age of 15. According to her oldest child, John, her chosen career was a beautician. "She started her 'working career' doing tints in the neighborhood for 50 cents each." She later worked at Dayton's Looking Glass Salon. When World War II started in 1939, she wanted to join the Navy with her brother, John, but she was too young. Olga, however, wanted to help out in the war effort after the United States entered the war following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. She worked for the Civil Service in a communications department. Her teletype skills later got her a job with the Southern Pacific Railroad sending messages in New York, California, and Texas. When her mother became ill, she returned home and worked at a local beauty shop until she bought and operated her own shop in Minneapolis. It was after the war that she met Albert Markovich, who served in the Army and had returned from the war. They fell in love. The Ely native was a fine catch. The 1920 model married Ms. Olga Walchuk on November 25, 1950, on her 28th birthday. He was 30 and already a game warden.  They kept moving north until they settled in Warroad. Albert Markovich, fondly known as "Markie," wasn't an unknown entity in this area. Some considered him a ghost. He was everywhere poachers least expected to get nabbed for game violations. He was a legend, retiring after 38 years. They were an amazing couple - the game warden and the beautician. She taught Sunday school for 20 years at St Mary's Catholic Church in Warroad and she also worked in the church kitchen for funerals and other events. Olga gave willingly of her time when she had little time to spare while living in Warroad and operating her own hair salon in the basement of her home. She was a senior citizen and volunteered at the Warroad Care Center for years taking care of the residents' hair. In their later years, Al and Olga moved to rural Roseau near Malung to live alongside Warner and Denise. Markie died in November 2010 at age 90. For the past 14 years, Mrs. Olga Markovich has kept the flame going for her beloved late husband.

 She is survived by her five children - John (Liz) Markovich, Lynn Markovich, Denise (Warner) Hendrickson, Mark(Penelope) Markovich, Kate (Kent) Amsbaugh, and grandchildren Elliot Amsbaugh and Natasha Rawding, as well as her sister Barbra Pavlov and family.

There will be no funeral service. Olga will be buried alongside Albert at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Roseau.

Olga requested in lieu of flowers, please donate to Boys Town, 13628 Flanagan Blvd, Boys Town , NE 68010

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