Barbara Olive

Barbara Ann Olive, age 81, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2026, at the HIA Hospice in Fargo, ND. She lived her life with a determined spirit and a thoughtful heart.

Barbara was born June 10, 1944, to Victor and Alice Peterson. As the fourth of five siblings in her extended family, Barb grew up doing chores and caring for livestock on their farm near Amenia ND. From a young age she was a voracious reader despite her near-sightedness and thick glasses.

Her love of reading and learning led her from Amenia high school to Concordia College in Moorhead, MN – a choice that would affect the rest of her life and career. Her Professor Walter Prausnitz’s mentorship in English Literature inspired her to study English with the goal of becoming a professor herself. After college, she taught high school English in Lake Park, MN, before starting graduate studies in English Literature at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

In Carbondale, she met her first husband, William Floyd Olive, Jr., and their son William Floyd Olive III was born in 1968. After their divorce, she moved back to North Dakota where she married Jacob Gust in 1973. The six children from Jake’s first marriage and her son Floyd became part of a large extended family.

Barbara returned to Concordia College as a professor in 1974. In addition to teaching English Literature and Discourse she also became interested in lesser-known literature by women authors, and her classes were foundational to the Gender Studies program at Concordia. She earned many awards for her research and leadership, including a Fulbright study grant and a Distinguished Professorship, and she served as Chair of the English Department for eight years. From introductory courses to advanced seminars, she was a beloved teacher and mentor.

In addition to her career as an educator, Barb was a full-time parent and farmer, managing everything from cooking meals to driving tractors and bookkeeping for the farm. She played piano and organ at Maple Sheyenne Lutheran Church and served on church committees. She and Jake also played accordion in the Kringen Accordion Band, which performed regularly in North Dakota and Minnesota, including performances on the Polka Spotlight TV series.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Jacob Gust; her son, William Floyd Olive III (Danika Hoffmann); her stepchildren, David (Patsy) Gust, Renee Gust, Sarah (Mark) Kirk, Jeffrey (Linda) Gust, Jerome Gust, Neil Gust; her siblings, Meta Geske, Donald (Eileen) Geske, Mary (Robert) Worner, Kenneth Peterson (Linda Scheet); her former husband William Floyd Olive, Jr. She is also survived by six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Celebration of Life: 10:30a.m. Friday, May 1, 2026, at Maple Sheyenne Lutheran Church, Harwood, ND.

Visitation:  An hour before the service.

In lieu of floral arrangements, memorials are preferred to HIA Hospice, Heather’s House in Fargo.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara Olive, please visit our floral store.