Virginia Draheim

Virginia Draheim, age 89, of Olivia, MN died Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at Bethesda Grand Nursing Home in Willmar. Funeral services will be Saturday, October 31 at 3:00 p.m. at Cross of Calvary Lutheran Church in Olivia with Pastor Matt Hausken officiating. A closed casket visitation will be at the church Saturday from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Live-streaming information will be provided before the service.  Burial will be at a later date in the Olivia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Mission Fund at Cross of Calvary Lutheran Church, the Renville County Chapter of American Red Cross in Olivia, a charity of the donor’s choice.  Arrangements are with Dirks-Blem Funeral Service of Olivia.

Due to Covid travel restrictions Virginia’s family will not be able to travel from Australia but can be contacted at [email protected] or via Facebook. They have provided a photo display via this link https://1drv.ms/v/s!AijsdMzjTJx9vD7fL97UT9UA-7pm?e=CN4Fk8

Virginia Clara May (Ewer) Draheim was born on November 6, 1930 to Claude and Marjorie (Forcier) Ewer in Bird Island Minnesota. Virginia grew up in Bird Island attending St Mary’s School. She worked as a nurses’ aid before formal nursing training at Willmar VoTech to become an LPN. She started nursing at Renville County Hospital on its opening day being the nurse attendant at the hospital’s first birth. On January 13, 1951 Virginia was united in marriage to Luverne “Vern” Draheim and they made their home in Olivia. They were blessed with two children, sadly, however their first son only survived for one day. Virginia continued to work as a nurse at the Renville County Hospital and then at the Olivia Nursing home until 1971. Virginia then focused on community service, increasing her commitment to many groups at Cross of Calvary Lutheran Church including the Altar Guild, quilting group, and chairing the funeral luncheon committee for many years. She was also a leading force in the revitalization of the Renville County Chapter of the American Red Cross, including Bloodmobile and First Aid/CPR. She served on the Olivia School Board (1988-1991) including the BOLD consolidation period and supported the Olivia United Appeal board for many years. Virginia will be remembered for being generous, empathetic, forthright and community focused.

Virginia is survived by her son Curt (Kerrie) Draheim of Brisbane, Australia; three brothers: Eugene Ewer of Andover Mn, Walter Ewer of Tucson Az and Oliver Ewer of Tucson Az. She was preceded in death by her husband Luverne, parents, infant son Charles, five brothers: infant James, Leon, Robert “Bob”, Loren and Vernon Ewer; and sister Dorothy Engelmann.

Blessed Be Her Memory