Olson, Ruth Marie Erickson (1931-2021)

OLSON, ERICKSON, HOVERSTEN, JOHNSON, ISEBRANDS, KNUTSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 1/3/2022 at 14:15:04

South Hamilton Record News, Jewell, Iowa, January 27, 2021

Ruth M. Olson, age 89, of Jewell, IA, passed away on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at the Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, IA.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Burial followed in the Evergreen Cemetery in Jewell.

Ruth Marie (Erickson) Olson was born on December 5, 1931 and passed to the next life in her heavenly home on January 23, 2021. She was born in Jewell, Iowa to B. Palmer and Nora A. (Hoversten) Erickson, the third of six children, with two older brothers and three younger sisters.

She was baptized and confirmed at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell. She attended Jewell High School, graduating as valedictorian of her class in 1949. Ruth played forward on the Jewell Jets High School girls basketball team that knocked out the defending state champions from Kamrar in the sectional tournament but fell in overtime one game short of reaching the Iowa Girls State Tournament in 1949. In high school she was also active in music, which was a life-long interest and activity.

Ruth attended Iowa State College graduating in 1953 with a degree in Home Economics, and what a home she made for her family. She later attended Drake University where she earned her elementary education teaching certificate.

On September 11, 1953 she married James Eugene (Gene) Olson at Bethesda Lutheran Church. Three sons were born to this union: Douglas Eugene, Gregory Scott and Michael Lyndon.

Ruth worked in various positions for over twenty years at the bank in Jewell. Prior to that she taught second grade in Radcliffe and other schools.

Her other interests included singing in a women's quartet with her sister Shirley, playing piano and chord organ (once appearing on local television), and as an original and life-long member of the Dei Nophts women's club. She served for several years as a board member for Bethany Manor in Story City.

Through the years, she was a busy church member who was happily involved in many activities at Bethesda and later St. Paul's Lutheran churches. Her faith was living and strong, sustaining her and her hope through all of life - and especially at the early deaths of her mother (when Ruth was nine) and her son Greg (when he was ten).

Ruth was a blessing to her husband, her sons and her family and friends all of her life. She treasured her grandchildren, Megan and Dan, and her great-grandchildren Annika, Asher and Lyra. She was very close to her siblings and their spouses and greatly enjoyed being an aunt to many special nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Palmer and Nora, brothers Palmer and Dean and sister Colleen, husband Gene and son Gregory.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons Douglas and Michael; grandchildren Megan Johnson and Daniel Olson; great-grandchildren Annika, Asher and Lyra Johnson, her sisters Shirley Isebrands and Elinor Knutson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and many extended family members.

The family has designated St. Paul's Lutheran, Bethesda Lutheran, or a cause of your choosing, for memorials.

Boeke Funeral Home of Radcliffe is caring for Ruth and her family.

For more information and online condolences go to: www.boekefuneralhomes.com