August 12, 1930 – August 30, 2024

Olive “Ollie” Marie Catherine Peters Strautman passed away peacefully on August 30, 2024 in Rifle CO, surrounded by her loving family. Ollie was born on August 12, 1930, in New Jersey, as the only child of Arthur Peters and Edna Liscombe. Ollie is survived by her three children and daughter in-love; Karen King, Catherine Gilbert, Eric Strautman and his wife, Carolyn; nine grandchildren: Angela Roff (Chris), Andrea King, Natalie Biernacki, Chelsea, Brittany Strautman (Jeff), Kendall Swarthout (Brian), Colter Strautman, Michael Golding and David Vigil; and eight great-grandchildren: Hayden and Haley Roff, Mila Strautman-Haney, Kaylee Golding and Aurora King.
After the early death of her mother, Ollie was raised by her “adopted” parents John and Hazel Chappell in Taunton, MA. Ollie graduated from Taunton High School, and then from Taunton Business School with an emphasis in banking. Ollie met the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Strautman, at her high school dance. After their engagement, Ollie waited two years for Dick to return from his Army unit in Germany. They were married on December 27, 1952. As Dick completed his service in the Army, Ollie danced with him regularly at parties, continued her career in banking, and joined a local sorority. Ollie and Dick lived in the Army barracks in Kansas when their daughters, Karen and Cathy, were born, and their son, Eric, was born on their 11th wedding anniversary in Albuquerque, NM.
Ollie spent her life with Dick and their children fishing, boating, flying, camping, skiing and anything else Dick wanted her to do. Ollie’s happiest place on Earth was Rose Point, at the base of Cape Cod at her parents’ cottage. Ollie and Dick always loved dancing and even taught ballroom dancing to passengers on cruise ships out of Miami. Ollie loved to attend school plays, sporting events, and concerts of her children and grandchildren, loudly ringing her Kansas State cowbell with enthusiasm! Ollie would drop her plans on a moment’s notice when invited to do anything with her children or grandchildren.
Ollie returned to Glenwood Springs, CO in 2007 after Dick’s passing. Ollie was active in the Elks Club in Glenwood, especially on Bingo night, and she also volunteered with the Valley View Hospital Auxiliary, charming patients and staff alike.
Ollie had an outgoing, bubbly personality which earned her the nickname “Jolly Ollie”. Usually decked out in a flashy hat, turquoise jewelry and her signature color purple, Ollie always lit up the room when she walked in. We will all miss Ollie’s regular calls and cards, and the warm love she showed to everyone she knew. According to her wishes, Ollie’s ashes will be joined eternally with Dick’s, and interred on Monday, February 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Grand Junction Veterans Memorial Cemetery.