Marie Eleanor Olson

(1917 – 2016)

Funeral services for Marie E. Olson will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale. The Reverend Richard Sliper will officiate. Interment will be in Pontoppidan Cemetery in Lemond Township. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at church.

Marie Eleanor Olson passed away May 13, 2016 at Koda Living Center in Owatonna, MN at the age of 98. She was born on a farm on August 5, 1917 in Deerfield Township to William and Laura (Budlow) Vogt. Marie went to school until 8th grade when the Depression came. She had to go to work for $2 a week which went to the family. At age 16, she worked at the canning factory for 20 cents an hour.

Marie loved to dance and met a special person, Waimer Olson, while dancing one night. The two didn’t dance, but they talked instead. He didn’t dance, but later surprised her by asking her to a dance after his mother taught him how. Waimer saved pennies to buy the $2 marriage license and paid for it in pennies too! In 1942, their son was born and what a joy it was for them until Waimer was drafted and left for war. The government paid Marie $80 a month, which she couldn’t make it on and went back to work. “Time was long, like the war would never end… and scary, many killed.” She looked forward to him coming home, but when he came home, he was a different person. Still, she loved him. They lived in Waseca and moved to the farm for peace and quiet for him. Marie worked as hard as he did on the farm. In 1987, they moved to Ellendale and found that people cared there and friendships blossomed. Each visitor of Marie’s was coaxed into seeing pictures of each grandchild.

Marie is survived by her son, Dennis (Sue) Olson; grandchildren, Robyn (Will) Flett and Brad (Sarah) Olson; great-grandchildren, Landry, Eva, Isaiah, Samuel, and Marie was excited for one on the way!; sisters-in-law, Laura Vogt and Shirley Vogt; and many nieces and nephews.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Waimer; parents; brothers, Lorenzo, Chester, Bill, Jerry; sisters, Irene and June.