Olsen, Muriel (Bigler) c1945 - 2025

OLSEN, BIGLER, BERG, SMITH, ONSA, DUCK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/25/2025 at 15:03:01

Devoted wife, loving mother, and passionate educator Muriel (nee Bigler) Olsen, 80, of Broomfield, Colorado, passed away peacefully at home after a long battle with Parkinson’s.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, David; sisters Kathy Berg and Lois (Noren) Smith; brother Steven (Deb) Bigler; daughter Merritt (Todd) Onsa and their children Madison and Collette; son Chad Olsen (Brian Duck) and their children Anne and Magnus.

Born a Decorah, Iowa, farm girl, she moved into town at 16 where she completed high school while working as a waitress at Ostrander’s. There she met David, who tutored her in chemistry. They married in August 1963, and despite advice that education would be “wasted” on a married woman, she attended Luther College for one year and graduated in 1967 from Augustana College with a degree in elementary education.

In 1969, they moved to Merced where Muriel devoted her teaching career to advancing literacy in children. She earned a masters degree in literacy, became a reading specialist, and trained new teachers in the district. She also instructed education majors at Fresno Pacific University and Cal State Stanislaus. In 2002, she retired after 32 years in the classroom and in that time impacted hundreds if not thousands of Central Valley students and teachers.

Muriel and David were avid distance runners, often waking early to train before work. They ran marathons across California, and in 1982, Muriel was ranked the 97th fastest 10k female runner in the U.S.

Muriel was gentle, kind, and had a contagious laugh. She supported her children’s interests, even joining them in the local production of The Sound of Music. Once the kids were grown, she pursued abstract watercolor painting with mixed media.

After moving to Louisville, Colorado, in 2013, Muriel embraced her role as “Mimi” and enjoyed regular visits to Pasadena with David to spend time with grandchildren.

Source: Decorah Newspapers May 20, 2025