Vida Gwendolyn Olson

OLSON STOCKWELL ZIKE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/13/2010 at 17:31:53

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Vida Gwendolyn (Stockwell) Olson
By Arvid Olson

Vida G Olson was born December 17, 1902 at Naper, Nebraska and married in 1921 in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The children born to this union: Arthur Clarence Olson, Jr, born November 7, 1922; Audrey Olson, June 7, 1924 – June 12, 1924; Milton Olson (twin), May 15, 1926; Melvin Olson (twin), May 15, 1926; Shirley Anderson, February 7, 1930; and Gwendolyn Plantz, March 17, 1934.

The father of Vida was Milton Stockwell born February 4, 1874, at Goodell, Iowa, who married September 1, 1900. Milton died July 26, 1945 at Herrick, South Dakota. Burial was at Floyd Cemetery, Sioux City. Vida’s mother was Blanche Zike, born May 19, 1880 at Osage, Iowa; she died April 29, 1961, at San Francisco, California. She was buried at Floyd Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa.
Vida taught school children at age 17. Vida started to school at age 4. At age 11 or 12 she was sick with pneumonia and her mother taught her at home. Vida taught a Harrie Lewis School in Butte, Nebraska. She moved to Sioux City at age 13. They did not have Child Labor Laws until 1916. She told them she was 14 the first year she worked when she was really 13. Vida worked in Omaha from age 14 to 15, every summer during World War I. She paid for her board and room and sent money home to her mother.

Vida liked very much to be with her Dad, Milton, and to go to the show with him. Vida would break a date anytime if she could go to a show with her Dad. He was fun to be with and an intelligent man. Vida used to like to ride horseback. She is active in the Salvation Army and has taught Sunday School for many years, having taught 44 years off and on, Home League Secretary for about 20 years which is the ladies aid organization, which makes things for poor people, etc. In the past she had lived in Leeds. She met Art, Sr, at the age of 18 or 19. She lives at 3501 Douglas in Sioux City, Iowa. Vida remembers on a Sunday a big table of people would be served dinner at Milton Stockwell’s house. Vida feels it is a miracle that at age 81 she can walk and teach.