ABUNDANT GRACE by Carrol Meyers-Dobler
March 2020 (To read previous entries, click here.)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. —Ephesians 4:32
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. —Hebrews 12:15
Teddy Erickson Ollrich and her younger sister grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, where their father worked for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. The two sisters, like so many other little girls growing up with stars in their eyes, imagined becoming famous actresses. Their parents, wanting to be supportive of the girls dreams (but knowing that over the course of growing up, these priorities would likely change) enrolled them in dance classes where they learned both tap and ballet. Lessons in singing, also essential to the orchestration of stage performances, were later added to the training repertoire.
In her efforts to respectfully uphold the the girls’ imaginative productions, Teddy’s mother designed countless costumes required for each “program.” While Teddy’s mother could envision what her daughters should wear on stage, she, herself, was unable to transform fabric into an actual costume. Instead, she simply hired a good friend to cut, pin, and sew the fabric into a costume suitable for the production currently in rehearsal mode by the girls. For many years, friends and family members enjoyed these unique and creative presentations.
Upon graduation from high school (and long ago facing the reality that Hollywood would never call), Teddy turned her attentions to a more realistic career. She set her sights on becoming a flight attendant, a career that required completion of at least one year of college. She chose Drake University.
Arthur Ollrich, already a student at Drake, was a star player on their basketball team. Exceptionally athletic, Arthur attracted the attention of many young ladies, yet none captured his heart like the young lady he met through a mutual acquaintance at a post-game party. Within five months of seeing one another, Arthur asked for her hand and she accepted. The couple eloped, marrying April 8, 1949.
Arthur had two years of college left. Teddy recalls that these years were among the best of years for the couple. Arthur continued his education, fully funded via his GI Bill and the various scholarships he had been awarded for his basketball expertise. Teddy dropped out of school, anxious to create a warm and comfortable home for the young couple but also willing to help with the finances through part-time work.
“I think we had more money then than we had at any other time in our marriage,” Teddy reflected. “You know, teachers were not well paid,” she added, “especially in 1950!”
Two years quickly came to an end and Arthur had earned his high school teaching degree. He immediately began to search for a position that would offer him classroom experience blended with the joy of coaching his own basketball team. Such was his passion.
Soon recruited by the high school in Ellsworth, Iowa, Arthur was beside himself with excitement. His lifelong dream was coming into fruition. He was going to be able to mentor and support his own team! What could be better?
Teddy shared Arthur’s enthusiasm and went to every game. She loved watching Arthur’s teams win game after game after game. The townspeople, in return, showed great hospitality to the coach and his wife. They were invited to all the important functions and community gatherings and formed many deep and abiding friendships.
“Of course, if you are the winning coach, you are loved by everyone,” said Teddy, taking the many invitations in stride.
Arthur’s teams surpassed even his expectations as a novice coach.
In year two, Teddy and Arthur welcomed their first baby, Tamra. Heidi followed 18 months later and August, their only son, was born three years later.
When the children were very young, Teddy had a good friend who would watch them so that she could continue to attend Arthur’s basketball games. As the children grew, they eagerly joined her in the bleachers! Basketball was always at the very center of the family’s life.
The Ollrich family spent eight years in Ellsworth before Arthur was recruited to Hutchinson, MN. Here, Arthur continued his legacy of excellence, winning game after game after game, advancing to the state tournaments on two occasions. His name was becoming well known throughout Minnesota and as a result, his reputation was attracting the attention of larger schools and universities. He simply had that rare ability to build strong, loyal teams who knew how to win games!
Arthur’s fifteen-year career coaching high school basketball came to a close when he was successfully recruited by Mankato State College. Teddy and Arthur were beyond excited about the pending move. Arthur was going to be coaching students from across the state, indeed, the upper midwest region, students who were stars on the courts of their hometown high schools and were now equally anxious to hone their skills at the college level. The Ollrich family bought a cozy little home just across the street from the college, enrolled the three children in school and anxiously looked forward to the arrival of Coach Ollrich’s first team members.
They soon found out that college games and college athletes were not to be compared to high school games and high school athletes. The wins were not happening as they did in Ellsworth and Hutchinson. The team was not developing as quickly as Arthur had anticipated. After less than three years, Arthur was re-assigned and named Intramural Director in the Physical Education Department.
“That was painful,” reflected Teddy. “Again, we realized that a winning coach is a loved coach. We thought he should have been given more time. We thought that he could build a winning team for them if only ——,” said Teddy, unable to finish her sentence.
Though disappointed, Arthur understood the rationale behind the decision. Teddy did, too. The family remained in Mankato, raising their family and treasuring their many friendships. Their children, well on their way to adulthood, afforded Teddy the opportunity to expand her horizons. She began playing bridge on a regular basis and accepted a part-time position with the Kind Accounting. Summer vacations were spent traveling and exploring the many parks of Minnesota, pop-up camper in tow. The kids loved those very special trips.
The Ollrich family lived a simple life with no regrets except for Arthur’s reassignment of duties. Oh, how he loved coaching. He would have wished for it to continue. Teddy admits that the memory of that time still stings on occasion.
Arthur continued his work within the college for 16 years before retiring. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica, a rare disease of the muscles and joints characterized by muscle pain and stiffness, affecting both sides of the body. Low grade fevers, weight loss, and intense fatigue often accompany the muscle pain. For a man used to teaching all day and coaching evenings and weekends, this diagnosis was difficult to accept. Medications did little to offer him comfort. Arthur passed away in 2007.
Today Teddy resides at New Perspective. She has continued with her love of bridge and plays as often as she is able, sometimes with friends she has known for a lifetime and sometimes with emerging friends who are also residents at New Perspective. Oldest daughter, Tamra and her husband, both now retired from their teaching careers, reside in Colorado and are enjoying international travel whenever they can. Heidi lives in New York City and continues her career as a flight attendant. August, also retired from a career in education, resides in Fertile, MN. August and his wife gifted Teddy with five grandchildren, one of whom purchased his grandma’s former home just across the street from the University. There he and his wife are raising their twin sons, Teddy’s great grandchildren, now just two years old.
Though Teddy’s life has been marked by both victory and loss, she has chosen to live her life in a quiet dignity trusting in the abundant grace of God.