Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 9, 2023 at St. George Catholic Church in St. George. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Sunday, October 8, 2023 in the chapel at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home NORTH chapel and continue on Monday at the church from 10-11 a.m., prior to Mass. To leave an online condolence or to sign the guestbook, please visit www.mvfh.org

Olivia is survived by: daughters Diane (Roger) Hauth of Springfield and Danelle (Gary) Hauser of New Ulm; sons Dean Binder of St. George, David (Catherine) Binder of Saddle Brook NJ, Douglas (Holly LeGrande) Binder of Shoreview, and Duane (Deborah) Binder of Lakeville; 15 grandchildren Elizabeth, Kevin, Erin, Katelyn, Eric, Abby, Nathan, Jake, Matthew, Michelle, Scott, Olivia, Amy, Clara, Kyle; 10 great-grandchildren, Olivia, Henry, Holden, Jeremiah, James, Gabriel, Cora, Dustin, Joelle, Asher, and 2 on the way; sisters-in-law Genny Fischer and Lavon Fischer; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Howard Binder in 2015; son Don Howard Binder in 1976; great-granddaughter Marlys Johnson in 2022; sisters and brothers-in-law Louise (Edward) Schmitz, Veronica (Willmer) Simon, Rosemary (Hilary) Tauer; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Emil Fischer, Edwin (Gertrude) Fischer, Herbert (Irene) Fischer, Arthur (Lorraine) Fischer, Wilbert (Theresa) Fischer, Sylvester Fischer, and Benjamin Fischer.

Olivia Clara Fischer was born August 1, 1933 in New Ulm to Frank and Clara (Bruckbauer) Fischer; she was the youngest and last surviving member of their 11 children. She attended school district #88 in Stark Township in Brown County. By the time she was a young teen, she had taken over the cooking and sewing responsibilities for her family. After moving off the family farm, she worked as a waitress at the City Café in Sleepy Eye, while still caring for her parents. She met Howard Wilfred Binder at George’s Ballroom in New Ulm and they were united in marriage on August 19, 1958 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. The couple resided on the Binder family farm near St. George where they raised their 7 children.

Olivia was a hard working farm wife who spent most her life milking cows, feeding calves, and managing a busy household. Olivia was best known for all her delicious food, including her sauerkraut and dumplings, schmierkuchen (“cheesecake”), German potato salad, pickles, Christmas treats, and homemade breads. There was always plenty to eat and gallons of freshly pasteurized milk to drink; cookies were made in quadruple batches and no visitor ever left hungry. Olivia was also an expert gardener and gave away much produce each year to church, family, and friends. Nothing made her more pleased than having a ridiculous amount of potatoes harvested or gallons of raspberries to put in the freezer. She took great pride in the food she grew and recipes made from scratch.

Olivia enjoyed life on the farm, but above all she loved to spend time with her family. She will be dearly missed by those who knew her. Blessed be her memory.

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]