Maggie Hlavinka

Maggie Hlavinka went home to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at the age of 76 after a year and a half long struggle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her husband and children. Maggie was the 10th of 12 children born to Alexander & Amelia (Pfitzer) Oster. Although her intended name was Magdalene, the nurse misunderstood and wrote Maggie on the birth certificate. Maggie was born in McIntosh SD and raised in Selfridge ND. She graduated from Selfridge High School in 1956. Maggie met Richard James Hlavinka while visiting a cousin in McLaughlin SD. Richard was playing basketball. Maggie saw him, asked her cousin to introduce him to her, and she was immediately smitten. Maggie married Richard on January 16, 1958 in Huron SD. They were married at the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod parsonage, with Leonard & Emily Hlavinka as witnesses. Maggie and Richard lived in McLaughlin SD for the first three years of their marriage. There they welcomed two sons. James Alex was born in December 1958 and Darnell Dean was born in June 1960. Maggie and Richard moved to Huron SD in 1961. There they welcomed another son, Sheldon Lee, in May 1962. Due to a declined economy and lack of work in the Dakotas, Maggie and Richard moved to Corvallis OR in the summer of 1966. Here they welcomed a daughter, Nichole Marie, in October 1972. Unbeknownst to Maggie and Richard, they started a trend when they moved to Oregon. They caravanned out to Oregon with Richard’s brother, Robert, and his family. Soon after, three more of Richard’s brothers and families, and two of Maggie’s sisters and families, moved to Oregon. All of the families resided within the Willamette Valley, which meant lots of aunts, uncles and cousins nearby to visit. Maggie and Richard rented a house located on Hwy 99W, north of Corvallis, in Lewisburg. Maggie decided to start an in-home day care and operated Tiny Timm Day Nursery from 1968-1970. An opportunity became available for Maggie and Richard to purchase the house next door, so they did. Maggie continued in-home child care, under the business name Mt. View Day Nursery, from 1970-1981. Many children were cared for by Maggie during this time. Maggie started working at Oregon State University in 1981. She worked for University Housing & Dining Services at Arnold Dining Center, Sackett Bakery, and McNary Dining Center. She had the blessing of working with wonderful supervisors, co-workers and student employees. Maggie’s children had the blessing of being able to visit her at work and sometimes sneak a sample of her yummy creations. She retired from OSU in June 1997. After a short break, Maggie pondered starting an in-home child care business again. To get her feet wet, she decided to get a job in a local child care center “to see what the kids are like these days”. Zion Child Care had an opening in September 1997 and Maggie applied. She liked it so much she stayed. She loved her supervisor and co-workers, and especially loved all of the babies and toddlers she cared for in the Infant/Toddler room. She retired in June 2007 due to a herniated disk in her neck. Evidently all the years of holding babies and making pastries had taken its toll. Maggie was baptized as an infant in the Christian faith. Around the age of 14, while attending Vacation Bible School, Maggie gave her life to the Lord Jesus Christ. She was always active in church and loved serving others through her gift of hospitality. She attended various Lutheran churches throughout her life, with the most recent being Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, in Corvallis. As her disease progressed, it was harder to get to church on a regular basis, which made each visit with her church family even more precious and dear to her. Maggie loved spending time with her immediate and extended family both here in Oregon and on summer road trips to the Dakotas. She also loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a frequent spectator at many baseball games, softball games, western horse shows, soccer games, roller derby bouts, birthday parties, holiday gatherings, Boy Scout and Girl Scout functions, choir concerts, plays, graduations, weddings, baptisms, etc. Maggie was preceded in death by her parents, Alexander and Amelia; sisters Olga, Ida, Florence, Lorraine, Viola, Clara, and Freda; and her brother, Herman. Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Richard Hlavinka; sons James (Candy) Hlavinka, Darnell (Jean) Hlavinka, and Sheldon (Susan) Hlavinka; daughter Nichole (Bruce) Havranek; grandchildren Brandy Hlavinka (fiancée Brian Bailey), Tasha (Alex) Hull, Andrew Hlavinka, Aaron Hlavinka, Danielle (Shane) Grant, and Gabriel Havranek; great-grandchildren Braydon Williams, Bryton Hull, Shelby Hull, Lennox Hull, Jonathan Hlavinka, Paisley Grant, Stetson Grant; and sisters Bernice Lemley, Emma Bitz, and Elsie Vetter. A celebration of Maggie’s life will take place Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 11:00am at Zion Lutheran Church, 2745 NW Harrison Blvd, Corvallis OR. Pastor Gregory Strand of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church will officiate. A luncheon will follow in the school gymnasium. The family would like to thank Dr. Lance McQuillan, Dr. Cam Little, the staff of Samaritan Home Health Services, the staff of Samaritan Evergreen Hospice, and the staff of New Horizons In-Home Care for taking such great care of Maggie. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation, Zion Lutheran School and Early Learning Center, Love INC, or any other charitable organization that provides health, educational or social services to the children of our local community or state.

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Maggie Hlavinka

December 30, 1937 - May 10, 2014