Marian Lucile Britton

BRITTON OLSONS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/19/2010 at 19:01:26

Woodbury County History 1984

Marian Olson Britton
By Doris Christensen

Marian Lucile, the daughter of Rudolph Olsons, was born on May 30, 1918, at Fairfax, South Dakota. She moved with her parents to Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, when she was in grade school. She graduated from the Sergeant Bluff High School and attended college at Cedar Falls, Iowa. She worked at the County Auditor’s Office in the Court House for many years and was well-known throughout the county. At this time she was elected as runner-up to Military Miss Sioux City in a contest which was held in Sioux City. In 1944 she was sent from Sioux City to Hanford, Washington, to work at a plant there. At that time it was not known what the plant was producing. At the close of World War II, on August 6, 1945, the War Department awarded her a certificate in appreciation for her effective service rendered essential to the production of the Atomic Bomb. After the war much of the activity was transferred to Richland, Washington.

She married Robert B Britton on May 29, 1947, Richland, Washington. He was sent to Hanford from Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Britton later became Labor Relations Manager for General Electric. He later served as Executive Secretary to the Southern Governors’ Conference.

Marian Britton died on April 23, 1963, in the Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington, after a long illness. Mrs. Britton, previous to her death, had been very active in the governmental and community affairs in Richland. Along with her husband she owned and operated Britton’s Clothing. She had served on the Board of Kadlec Hospital, was president of the Town Council and was a member of the School Board at Richland. She was very active in Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and had won the International Rushing Award.

Their children were Susan Lucile Britton and Scott Robert Britton. Susan, who is now Mrs. Bill Pennell, of Long Beach, Mississippi, graduated from Hattiesburg State College and is employed as a teacher in the Long Beach System. Scott was graduated form Ole Mississippi and is now in business with his father at Jackson, Mississippi. Scott is now married to Cynthia Porter of Jackson, Mississippi.