Olive Mae Sagen, 91, Sturgis, died Monday, March 30, 2009, at the Sturgis Lippold Hospice Suite after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Olive was born to Rip and Merle (Oeser) Vansickel on August 29, 1917, in a sod house about a quarter mile south of the present Charles Vansickel home near Opal. Olive attended the Red Owl School until moving to Sturgis to attend high school, where she graduated in 1935. She married Martin "Red" Sagen on October 5, 1939, in Sturgis.

In addition to being a dedicated housewife and mother, Olive worked full-time for various governmental agencies, including the Meade County Auditor's office, the Meade County Superintendent of Schools, and the Selective Service System, where she worked a total of over 27 years, at one time serving as Executive Secretary of two local board offices in Deadwood and Sturgis.

Following her retirement from Selective Service, she worked another 5 ½ years as Executive Secretary for the Meade County Clerk of Courts.

Olive was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

Olive enjoyed the Monday morning coffee group, grew beautiful African violets, and collected butterfly paraphernalia.

Survivors include her son, Tim and his partner, Ken Hoole, Fort Collins, CO; grandson, Kevin Haberstroh and his wife,

Theresa, and their children, Logan and Naia, Maui, HI; sister, Jeanne Harter, Murrieta, CA; son-in-law, Ernest Basener, Rapid City; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin "Red" Sagen, and her daughter, Peggy Sagen.

A memorial has been established to the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department.

Visitation will be Sunday from noon until 9:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 6 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Denzel Nonhof officiating. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.