Olive Ruth Abbott, 90, Steele, died Nov. 2, 2000 in the Steele nursing home. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, at United Methodist Church, Steele, with the Rev. James Cissell officiating. Burial will be in Dawson Cemetery.

Olive was born March 14, 1910 on the family farm south of Dawson, the daughter of Wesley Fletcher and Lillie Mae (Stuart) Nicholson. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from high school at Jamestown Academy. She attended Valley City State University where she received her Bachelor of Science. On Oct. 19, 1940, she and Paul Jennings Abbott were married at her parents' home south of Dawson. Following their marriage, they moved into Dawson. On July 11, 1943, they had a son, Bruce Jennings Abbott, he died on Oct. 24, 1943. Paul passed away on Sept. 8, 1991.

Olive taught for 38 years in rural schools in Kidder County, in the Dawson elementary school and in the Steele-Dawson School. She retired in 1979.

Olive was an active member of the Dawson Congregational Church. She belonged to Ladies Home Circle, Homemakers Club, and Fortnightly Club in Dawson. She moved to Steele and lived with Lois Arusell until entering Golden Manor. She had numerous hobbies and interests, but her major interest was loving children. She was a much loved surrogate mother to numerous nephews and nieces.

Olive is survived by her brothers, Leslie, Tappen, and Walter Loraine, East Bethel, Minn.; her sisters, Hazel Little, Park Rapids, Minn., and Lois Arusell, Steele; as well as numerous nephews and nieces; great nephews and great nieces; and great-great nephews and great-great nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her son; her parents; her brothers, Clifford and Orville; and her sisters, Myrtle Vick, Dorothy Woessner and Eunice Eichele.

(Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck)