God's Gifts
Odebolt parishioner shares generous gift with diocese

By Kenny Keane, Globe staff reporter
Posted December 19, 2002

The Sioux City Diocese recently received what might be considered an early Christmas present from Norm Olberding, a parishioner at St. Martin Church in Odebolt.

"Norm established a gift annuity with the Catholic School Foundation of the Diocese of Sioux City using 160 acres of farmland in Sac County," said Steve Elbert, development director for the diocese. "He will receive annuity payments for the remainder of his life. The remaining funds will then be added to The Norm and Millie Olberding Endowed Fund for Catholic Education in the Catholic School Foundation.

"This fund will greatly benefit future generations. He is a true steward for sharing his blessings."

Olberding said there were a few factors that came into play when deciding on this gift, including his age.

"I've got the ability to do it, and I'm not getting any younger," he said. "So if I'm going to do something that's good for a lot of people that's what I want to do. I'm glad to do it."

Another stipulation that was of great importance to Olberding was that this endowed scholarship be perpetual.

"That was one of the things that I really insisted on," said Olberding, who also thought that his gift might inspire others to give. "I hope by giving this amount that it will encourage other people to say, 'Well, maybe I could do something like that.' That's foremost in my mind. Others can do it, and this just might encourage them to do so."

As substantial as this gift is, it is nothing new for Olberding and his late wife Millie, according to Jim Wharton, director of stewardship and planned giving for the diocese.

"They've been very generous for a long time," Wharton said. "When we called on Norm and talked about the possibility of doing something in his name and his wife's name, this was something that made a lot of sense to Norm. He's always been a very generous person in terms of the church and other things around the Odebolt area."

Wharton said he was not fortunate enough to know Millie, who passed away a little over four years ago, but he said just knowing Norm has been very special.

"We are so grateful for the gift he made," Wharton said. "I think Norm understands that what he's decided to do with that farm in Odebolt will have a major impact on the Catholic schools for many, many years to come. I don't think we can underestimate how important it is and how grateful we are for what he did."

Even though the beneficiaries of this gift, the students who attend Catholic schools in the diocese, will never know the Olberdings, Wharton said he believes they will hear of them one day.

"Somewhere along the line somebody's going to tell the story about a very generous gentleman from Odebolt, who did something in his and his wife's name that really made a huge difference," Wharton said. "That's what's so important to us."

Olberding's gift is an extremely important act of generosity on his part, according to Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo, who said Olberding told him that he and his wife were not blessed with children, but he has always been concerned about the faith of the young people.

"Long after he's gone, his gift will still be giving to help our children and young people," Bishop DiNardo said. "He's a most generous man. In talking with him the other day, I found him to be also an extremely witty man.

"He's a great deal of fun, but his faith is very earnest and very serious. He has a great sense of vitality and life. He sees this all through the prism of his faith."