Marcia Olson

Marcia Lucille Olson was born October 24, 1921 in Lake Crystal, MN to Emil and Della (Madson) Bredesen. She was also baptized in Lake Crystal on December 10, 1921 and confirmed on June 21,1936 at First Lutheran Church, St. James. She attended St. James Public Schools and graduated in 1939, followed by 4 years of college, graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN in 1943. From then until 1956 she taught English, Latin and French in Danube, Brewster, White Bear Lake, Butterfield, Fairmont, and Red Wing. During her summer vacations she did extensive traveling to historical and tourist areas in the U.S. For one year (1948-1949) she also owned and operated a gift shop in St. James. On July 21, 1956 she married Burton Olson at First Lutheran Church, St. James. For the next 25 years they farmed and raised their family near Godahl, MN. Along with being a wonderful mother and homemaker, Marcia also taught piano lessons, was an active member of Albion Lutheran Church as a piano accompanist, choir director, Sunday School teacher, and member of the Ladies Aid, and was the clerk of Rural School District #211 where her children attended from 1963 to 1970. From 1968 to 1978 she and Burton were also foster parents in Brown County for 16 children - many of them babies. In 1981 she and Burton left their farm and moved to St. James where they spent their retirement years. While in town, Marcia enjoyed many years of being a part of Friendship Bible Coffees, attending Christian Women's Club, and hosting family and friends in her home. She met with her friends from the Class of '39 on a monthly basis and was involved in planning high school class reunions. Attending the Madson Family Reunion, which started in 1941, was also an annual tradition for Marcia, and for many of those years she was the family historian. She also became very interested in family tree and genealogical work for her Madson family. Marcia also continued to enjoy her hobbies of piano playing, reading, baking, sewing and cross-stitch. After many years of attending Albion, she and Burton became members of Hosanna Free Lutheran Church, St. James, in 1996. Her husband passed away in 2004. In 2010 Marcia moved from her home and was a resident at the Good Samaritan Senior Care facilities in St. James until 2012 when she moved to Oak Terrace Senior Community in Gaylord, MN. She is survived by children; Twyla (Jim) Peasley of Richfield, Kent Olson (Tammie Sveine) of St. James, Keith Olson of St. Paul, Tricia (John) Mielke of Winthrop, grandchildren; Julia (Luis) Lorenzana Peasley of Minneapolis, Jonathan (Mary) Peasley of St. Paul, Laura Jo Peasley of Richfield, Linnea Peasley of Richfield, Kyle Olson of New York, Kory Olson of New York, Roselyn Mielke of Winthrop, Joshua Mielke of Winthrop, sister-in-law; Donna Olson of Michigan, many cousins, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband; Burton, parents; Emil Della, and a sister; Kathryn Schermerhorn. Visitation 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Thursday, March 20, 2014 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel 906 - 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 1:30 pm Friday, March 21, 2014 Hosanna Free Lutheran Church- St. James 1176 11th Street S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information Mt. Hope Cemetery, St. James S. CR 27 St. James, Minnesota, United States