Alice Olson

Funeral services for Alice M. Olson will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at St. Theodore Catholic Church, Albert Lea.  Father Kurt Farrell will officiate.  Visitation will take place on Friday from 4 – 7 PM at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, with a time to share memories at 7 PM. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial will be in St. James Cemetery, Twin Lakes.

Alice died peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, February 23, 2018 at St. John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea.  She was 87 years old.

Alice M. (Leska) Olson was born on July 22, 1930 to Alois and Antonia (Foral) Leska near Comstock, Nebraska.  Her early years were spent in Custer County, NE. Growing up she also lived in Omaha, in Wyoming and Utah, then back to Omaha where she graduated from South High.  She went to college for business training, then worked as a secretary for 7 years at St. Columban Missionaries.

On January 15, 1955, Alice was united in marriage to Orren E. Olson at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Omaha.  They resided in nearby Bellevue for several years. In 1967, the couple and their family moved to a farm near Alden, which they called home until moving into Albert Lea in 2008.  Alice and Orren were blessed with eight children.

Aside from raising her family, Alice worked nights as a nurse’s aide at the Lake Mills Care Center for 21 years.  When she wasn’t working or taking care of her family, you could probably find Alice doing something at St. James Catholic Church in Twin Lakes.  That was her home away from home, where she stayed involved in the church for many years.  Alice and Orren then attended St. Theodore Catholic Church.

While her children were growing up, Alice became very involved in 4-H, where she spent many years as a 4-H leader, and was always a part of the rabbit project at the county fair.  Alice also enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking, and baking.  Alice and Orren used to go dancing – it was their favorite activity together.  A special trip for the couple was going on a dance cruise in the Caribbean for their 40th anniversary.  Alice could be described as a hardworking, giving, and thankful person.  One thank you was never enough, it was always “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!”  She was sweet, kind, generous, and most of all, she loved her husband, children, and grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by both parents, Alois and Antonia Leska; siblings, Joseph and Lillian; and a son in-law, John Pollack.

Those left to carry on her legacy include her husband of 63 years, Orren; children, Catherine (Robert) Wittmer, Janet (Bruce) Anderson, Wayne (Ann Bryson) Olson, Bernice Pollack, Marilyn (Steve) Munoz, Douglas (Angela) Olson, Lorraine (Joseph) Rhodes, and Alan (Angel) Olson; grandchildren, Colin (Amelia) Wittmer, Anthony (Alyssa) Wittmer, Laura (fiancé Thierry Fernaine) Anderson, Linda Anderson, Bryse, Maurene, and Donovan Olson, Harrison and Hannah Pollack, Brandon and Marissa Munoz, Joseph, Christian, and Evelyn Rhodes, and Amanda, Kyerea, Hallie, Brenna, Braiden, and Mara Olson; great-grandchildren, Kellan Wittmer and Vanessa Wittmer; as well as many other loving relatives and friends.

Blessed be her memory!