Dorla
"Dee" Olson
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Faith United Methodist Church
in Grand Island. The Rev. Matthew E. Fowler will officiate. Burial will
be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at All Faiths Funeral Home.
Mrs. Olson was born on Oct. 13, 1930, at Lodi to Hugh and Faye (Kolbo) Hoffman.
Survivors of the immediate family include sisters and brothers-in-law, Roberta and Larry Nansel and Jerry Jorgenson, all of Kearney, Gaylene and Bill Rudy of Aurora and Bernita and Craig Meads of Overton.
She is also survived by sister-in-laws, Alberta Olson of Colorado and Cherry Olson of Illinois; many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
Dee was preceded in death by her husband, James Olson in October 2007, her parents, and brother-in-laws Bob and Bud Olson.
Dee attended Lower Lodi and Milldale elementary schools. She graduated from Callaway High School in 1948. During high school and following graduation, she worked at the public telephone company in Callaway as a switchboard operator. Dee attended the Hastings Academy Cosmetology School and returned to Callaway where she owned and operated 'Dee's Wave Shop' from 1950 to 1955. She then worked for the Callaway Creamery as a bookkeeper. During this time she lived with and cared for her Grandpa Melvin Kolbo after his wife's death in 1955.
On Oct. 6, 1957, she married James Olson in Callaway. They spent their entire married life in Grand Island. They had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary just prior to Jim's passing.
Dee was a member of Fidelity EUB Church dedicating her life to Christ at an early age. She then joined the Callaway EUB Church and was a long time member of Faith United Methodist Church in Grand Island and received her 50-year membership pin earlier this year. Dee was a very active member serving on many committees, was a Sunday School teacher and a member of the United Methodist Women. She also was very active in Christian Womens Club for many years.
During the spring and summer months she worked at the Lewis Greenhouse where she loved tending to flowers and bedding plants.
Family was always important to Dee and Jim. They also had a special relationship with family friend, Laurie (Laue) Farr, caring for her as a small child. This friendship carried over into adulthood and they always thought of her as part of their family. All of Dee and Jim's nieces and nephews were special to them and each has fond memories of visits with Aunt Dee and Uncle Jim. They cared for their great-niece, Kara Nansel and great-nephew, Corey Sheen when they were young children.
Memorials are suggested to the Gideon's International or Faith United Methodist Church.