Eva (Pichner) OLSON

OLSON, PICHNER, TRUHLAR, COLE, METCALF, BROWN, HENDRICKS, ANDERSON, RUEHLING, UTPADEL, ROHWER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/29/2009 at 20:18:50

12/29/2009
Belmond Independent, Iowa

Eva P. Olson, 90, Woodbury, MN, died December 26, 2009. Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009 from 3 to 7 p.m. and at Our Savior's Lutheran Church on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009 from 9 to 10 a.m. Services will be held at 10 a.m. at the church with interment at Bohemian National Cemetery in Owatonna.

Eva was born in Owatonna on November 5, 1919, the daughter of George and Anna (Truhlar) Pichner. She graduated from Owatonna High School and married Edwin C. Olson on April 15, 1945. Eva loved music and played accordion and piano for the Jerry Ripka and Al Ruzak bands in the 1940's. She worked at the Owatonna Bakery where she met her husband. Eva and Ed opened a bakery in Belmond which they operated until his death in 1954. She worked at the Belmond clinic and then operated her own beauty shop in her home until she returned to Owatonna in 1979 to be closer to her family. Then was employed with Wenger Corporation and the Owatonna School District until her retirement in 1989. She adored her twin granddaughters and was an after school granddaughter sitter for several years. She especially enjoyed helping with their music lessons, playing the piano as they practiced the violin and viola. In January 2009 she moved to Woodbury to be closer to her daughter. Eva was active in the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary and CSA; she served as secretary for both organizations for over ten years. She was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran. Eva volunteered with Meals on Wheels, pancake breakfasts at the Eagles, was a chaperone and cook for youth trips to Colorado, and baked for many fundraisers. For her work in the community, Eva was honored as Steele County Senior Citizen of the Year (1998), CSA Fraternalist of the Year (2000) and Minnesota State Auxiliary Madam Secretary of the Year (2006).

Eva was preceded in death by her husband; brothers-in-law Anton Olson, Merlin Cole, Jimmie Olson and Rex Metcalf; and sisters-in-law Erlys Cole and Irene Metcalf. She is survived by her children Ed (Eileen) Olson of Owatonna and Barb (Mike) Brown of Maplewood; grandchildren Stephanie (Kyle) Hendricks of E. Peoria, IL and Gretchen Olson of Owatonna and her fiancé Travis Anderson of Waterville; sister Ruth (Larry) Ruehling of Owatonna; and sisters-in-law Marion Utpadel of Owatonna, Mary Ann (Bill) Rohwer of Medford, and JoAnn Olson of Ellendale.