Olive Behling

Olive F. Behling, age 95, a resident of Zinzendorf Hall, died Monday August 10, 2010. She was born in Racine Wisconsin on December 22, 1914, the daughter of Clark and Sara (Snyder) Ford. She graduated from Oshkosh high school in 1932. While working in Neenah for the State Employment Office, she was transferred to Watertown where she met and married Richard W. Behling on September 30, 1939 at St. Johns Lutheran church in Watertown. They had two daughters, Pat Behling (Sun Prairie) and Barbara Ford (Cambridge, Massachusetts). Olive was involved in many community organizations, often serving as an officer. Her family will miss her for the Renaissance woman she was, driven by her passion for great literature, art, classical music, travel, and sports. Olive was a talented seamstress, cook and gardener. She had a quiet style with a real flair for fashion. Olive was a voracious reader with a strong liberal bend both politically and socially. She subtlety taught those around her by sharing her experiences and the things she loved. Olive was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, sister and her husband.She is survived by her daughters, sister-in-law, Gen Krier (Watertown) and special friend and sister-in-law, J.J. Wilson (California), many nieces and nephews plus long time friends in Wisconsin and California. Her daughters would like to thank the saff at Zinzendorf Hall for their compassion, care and support during the last two years of Olives life. They became like family during the final part of her journey. The Schmutzler-Vick Funeral Home Watertown is assisting the family with arrangements. Family and friends will gather in California, at a yet to be determined date, in memory of Olive. Her daughters suggest memorials in Olives name be made to WPR (Wisconsin Public Radio), 821 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706, due to her love for classical music and the pleasure it gave her throughout her life.