Olivia Buth

Olivia Mae Buth, 19, of Moorhead, MN, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, surrounded by her loving family at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND. Public Visitation will be Monday, January 29, 2018, at Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home in Breckenridge, MN from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Prayer Service at 7:30 PM. Olivia’s Funeral Service will be held at Breckenridge Lutheran Church on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, at 11:00 AM with public visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Christ Lutheran Cemetery in rural Wolverton, MN at 2:00 PM.

Olivia was born on November 4, 1998, at the St. Francis Hospital in Breckenridge, MN, the daughter of Tim and Melanie (Herbst) Buth. She grew up on the farm near Wolverton, MN and for a short time moved to Breckenridge, where her family built a handicap-accessible house. Later she moved to Fergus Falls, MN and attended school there. Most recently, she moved to Moorhead where she immediately received the love and wonderful care of the staff at Creative Care for Reaching Independence (CCRI).

There was not a single person that met Olivia who was not impacted by her life. She proved to the world that she was not limited by the things she could not do, but she was empowered by the numerous things she could do. Olivia could smile the biggest, most contagious smile. She could laugh. She could feel complete and unbridled happiness, especially when listening to her favorite artists like Taylor Swift, Zac Efron, and Justin Bieber. Her joy overflowed when she could spend the day at the lake or the waterpark with her family.  She could love without condition, everyone around her could feel her love; she didn’t have to say anything. Her love was found in the smiles, and the nights resting in bed listening to her father read her favorite stories. It was the school “snuggles” on the gigantic bean bag with her caregivers. Her love was found in the way she lived. She took joy in seeing her family, holding her dogs, Max and Bandit, and watching her favorite TV show, (ironically named after herself) “Olivia.” She took nothing for granted. Her favorite things were the ones that were often overlooked by others, like the appreciation of lifting her face to feel raindrops falling from the heavens. Olivia’s life was short but there was not a minute she did not marvel at the beauty of the simple things. She made time to stop and smell the roses.

Olivia’s life had circumstances and trials that she overcame every day. Her strength inspired others and taught them about their own strengths and gifts. Olivia effortlessly worked her way into the hearts of surgeons, doctors, nurses, teachers and caregivers within a matter of minutes. She showed everyone what it is to be strong; she fought battles in health and limitations that would crush many of us. But she persevered, and she did so with grace. She was a part of an adaptive bowling team with the Kennedy Secondary School in Fergus Falls where she earned a varsity letter and competed for state on multiple occasions. She thoroughly enjoyed her teachers and the subjects they taught. Among them, her favorite was pottery class where she created beautiful pieces to give to her family. She participated in the Fergus Falls 5k annual Lake Region Run and other one mile races and received numerous medals. Olivia constantly looked to do good in the world and to touch the lives of as many people possible. As a result, one of the ways she accomplished this was by donating her hair to “Kids with Cancer” twice, and was hoping to donate her beautiful hair again this spring. Olivia’s life was the greatest gift, one that will never be forgotten.

Olivia will be missed by her parents, Tim and Mel (Herbst) Buth of Wolverton, MN; her sister, Miranda Osborn of Fargo, ND; her maternal grandfather, Ralph Herbst of Moorhead, MN; two dogs, Max and Bandit; and several uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Olivia is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Ernest and Audrey Buth; and her maternal grandmother, EvaRae Herbst.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the medical staff at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND and the Minnesota Epilepsy Group, the wonderful caregivers at C.C.R.I., the teachers at the Fergus Falls School District, and the many friends who loved Olivia and touched her life.