Orlaine Wiger, age 79, of Idaho Falls, ID, formerly Ada, MN, died Thursday, October 15, 2015, in Idaho Falls.

Orlaine Betty Merkins was born August 27, 1936, the daughter of Henry and Bertha (Braunschweig) Merkins in Ada where she attended school, graduating from Ada High School. After graduation, Orlaine was employed as a nurse's aide at the Ada Municipal Hospital and later, the Ada Nursing Home. On June 8, 1957, Orlaine was united in marriage to Ned Harold Wiger at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasant View Township, near Ada. The couple made their home near Ada where they raised their four children: Betty, Mary, Keith, and Carol. In later years, Orlaine was employed in home health care in the Ada community. Six months after Harold's death in 2011, Orlaine moved to Idaho Falls to live with her daughter, Betty, and family, where she resided until the time of her death.

Orlaine was a past member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Green Meadow, later joining Zion Lutheran Church in Ada. She was very active in both churches enjoying participating in the women's groups as well as quilting. Over the years, Orlaine hosted many family gatherings and holiday dinners. Family was very important to her and she truly treasured the time she spent together with them. Orlaine had a special love for animals, especially dogs and her many cats. She was a homemaker through and through! She and Harold had large vegetable gardens that she enjoyed canning and freezing the produce from, as well as the berries and apples they grew. Other favorite pastimes included cross-stitching, attending whist parties, tending her flower gardens, helping Harold put up wood in the fall, and just being outdoors doing whatever needed to be taken care of.

Orlaine is survived by daughters, Betty (Jim) Oloff of Idaho Falls, ID, Mary (Barry) Schutjer of Crestview, FL and Carol (Don) Clark of Mankato, MN; son, Keith (Bernice) Wiger of Moorhead, MN; eight grandchildren: Noah, Esther, Daniel, and Lydia Oloff, Cody and Cory Schutjer; step-grandchildren, Nathan Clark and Emily Taylor; three step-great-grandchildren: Dylan, Hannah and James, and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers: Leonard, Ray and Albert, and sister, Agnes.

Funeral Services were held on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in Zion Lutheran Church, Ada. Visitation was Friday, October 23, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 6:30 Prayer Service at the church. Visitation was also one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Officiating was Pastor Robert Behling with Solveig Kitchell serving as organist and Betty Oloff and Don Clark providing special music. Pallbearers were her nephews: Pete Merkins, Paul Merkins, Ron Merkins, Don Merkins, Dean Merkins, Bob Merkins, Bill Merkins, Wes Brandt, and Dennis Brandt. Honorary pallbearers were her nieces: Sharon Villarreal, Dorothy Winterfeldt, Pam Wendlant, and Kathleen Obiozor.

Inurnment was in Pleasant View Cemetery, rural Ada.