Marguerite Ann (Oppedahl) OLSON

OLSON, OPPEDAHL, CARLSON, CIRKS, MONSON, BYRO

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/12/2009 at 11:17:00

December 12, 2009
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

BODE, Iowa - Marguerite A. Olson, 85, a longtime Bode resident, died Wednesday December 9, 2009 at the Humboldt Care Center North, where she has resided since November of 2006. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday December 14, 2009 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode with The Rev. Paul Breddin officiating. Visitation will be Sunday December 13, 2009 from 4-8 p.m. at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Bode.

Marguerite is survived by her children, sons, Norman Olson and Tom (Julie) Olson both of Bode, and daughter Marilyn (Leland) Carlson of Stratford; grandchildren: grandsons, Andrew (Kristyn) Olson of Bode, Kyle (Fiancee, Aaron Cirks) of Ames, Anthony Olson of Bode, Lee Carlson of Ames, and granddaughter, Marie Carlson of Ames; sister, Averill (Eldon) Monson of Livermore; brothers, Rev. Andrew (Carolyn) Oppedahl, Jr. of Dubuque, and Sumner (Arda) Oppedahl of Goldfield; and several nieces and nephews. Marguerite was preceded in death by her parents and husband Orville.

Marguerite Ann Oppedahl was born on the home farm at Goldfield, Iowa on December 22, 1923 to Andrew and Stella (Byro) Oppedahl. She attended country school near her home until High School when she attended and graduated in 1941 from Renwick High School. She went on to graduate with a teaching degree from Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa After graduating from college she moved to Bode, Iowa where she taught 1st grade for the Bode Consolidated School System. At this time she met her future husband, Orville Olson, a World War II POW who came to talk to the school children. They were married June 1, 1946 at Lake Lutheran Country Church and then moved to a farm south of Bode where they lived for 58 years until Orville's death on March 10, 2005. Marguerite also taught country school for one year before deciding to devote all of her attention to their farming operation. She did all the bookkeeping and was very instrumental in the day to day chores of the large poultry laying operation.

Marguerite took pride in her Norwegian Heritage and all its traditions and was always ready to entertain family members or friends at any time, especially on holidays. Hobbies also included sewing, baking, and traveling with Orville to Norway, Washington D.C., Texas, Kansas City, and many other destinations. Her activities included: member of the St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode, member of the St. Olaf Choir, and past Ladies Aid President where she helped with many church Lutefisk suppers. Marguerite served for many years as a 4-H leader, worked many years at the Humboldt County Fair as a superintendent for general fair entries, and for the local Twin Rivers Band Boosters. Marguerite was also very active in the Sons of Norway, Humboldt County Farm Bureau Women, Humboldt County Republican Women, Humboldt County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Bode Community Club, 1981 Bode Centennial Committee, Bode Women's Club, and the local neighborhood club. She was also the secretary for many years for the Iowa Great Lakes Chapter for ex-POW's.