Ruby Olson
Ruby C. Olson, 82, of Harpers Ferry died Friday, June 24, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. A celebration of life was held Monday, June 27 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery.
Martin Funeral Home in Waukon assisted the family with arrangements. Memorials can be made to Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, Hospice of Crossing Rivers Health in Prairie du Chien, WI, Lutheran World Relief, the Salvation Army, or to Lutheran Bible Translators.
Ruby Carol Olson was born July 24, 1933 in Churchtown, the daughter of Archibald Thomas and Jennie Olivia (Peterson) Uren. She attended and graduated from Lansing schools; after high school Ruby worked for Rethwisch Lumber and the Lansing button factory.
September 7, 1952, she married Lloyd Alf Olson at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lansing. The couple lived in the Waterville area and on the home farm in Harpers Ferry. Besides raising their children, Ruby also did bookkeeping and other duties with Lloyd at Olson Brothers Sawmill.
She was a very devoted member at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville; she and Lloyd were church custodians and caretakers of the cemetery. Ruby was on many church circles and boards, was the church secretary, taught Bible study and Sunday school, and was known as the “premier Bible teacher” at Old East. She loved flowers and gardening, playing euchre, quilting and traveling.
Ruby made trips to Norway, Hawaii, Florida, California, Arizona and northern Minnesota. Ruby was also an avid reader, sold Avon, and was a census taker for a while. Ruby loved her family and always made sure to attend her grandchildren’s activities. She was a very giving person, volunteering for hospice and caring for ill family members. Ruby liked to bake and for Christmas would bake care packages for the neighbors.
Ruby is survived by her children, David (Veronica) Olson of Harpers Ferry and Deborah (Cliff) McElroy of Manchester, OH; five grandchildren, Steven Hill, Chad Olson, Janet Olson, Mandy (Steve) Hammel and Jeff Haas; seven great-grandchildren, RyLee, Marquis and Maxwell Olson, and Cloee, Madison, Trey and Jayce Hammel; a sister, Joyce Brennan of Lansing; a sister-in-law, Amy Ferris of Burlington; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lloyd, in 2011; and two sisters, Shirley Koenen and Dorothy Van Brocklin.
Honorary casketbearers were Ruby’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
