Obituary of Shirley Ann Olson

Shirley Ann (Larson) Olson of Owatonna, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, December 31, 2015, her 66th wedding anniversary, at age 87. She was born on August 17, 1928, at home on a dairy farm in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, to Annie (Ebensperger) and Arthur Larson. She grew up there and later earned a teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls. She taught for two years, then married Dean Olson on December 31, 1949. Together they raised eight children as she embraced her roles as a wife, mother, homemaker, and substitute teacher. Later in life Shirley worked for Farmers Home Administration, where she enjoyed assisting people for access to low-income housing. Shirley had a deep love for poetry and literature; she enjoyed writing and sharing poetry with her family. She also appreciated nature, gardening, and the arts, and she instilled these values in her children and grandchildren. Shirley is survived by her husband, Dean Olson, and her children, Diane Olson, Nancy (Larry) Carroll, Terry Olson, Scott Olson, Julie Olson, Jill (Brian) Eck, and Jennifer (Stephen) Sylvester, 13 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Steven, her parents, two brothers, and five sisters. Her memorial service will take place at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Avenue South, Edina, Minnesota, on Friday, January 8, at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.