Bessie Olson, age 99, of GracePointe Commons, diedin her apartment on June 21, 2012. There will be private familty services at the end of July at Mt. Carmel in Alexandria.
Bessie Ellen Olson was born February 24, 1913 in Baraboo, Wisconsin to Charles and Jennie (Pinneo) Thomas. Her father died when she was a baby and her mother raised the family alone. They later moved to Mauston, Wisconsin where she graduated from high school. Her mother owned a Boarding House near the University of Wisconsin. Bessie graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a medical technology degree and would work in the medical field for many years. Bessie married Harland Olson on July 20, 1940 in Mauston in the Methodist Church. They moved to Altoona, Wisconsin in 1988. In 2002 they moved to Isanti to live with their daughter, Ruth Thunstrom, and family. Bessie later moved to GracePointe Commons in Cambridge where she lived her last years. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Isanti. She had always been active in her church and the family activities were always important to her. Bessie was a life member of Bread For The World and she was an active writer and advocate for hunger and poverty issues.
Bessie Olson died on June 21, 2012 at her apartment in GracePointe Commons at the age of 99years, 3 months and 28 days.
Bessie is survived by 2 sons, T. Hans (Marian) Olson of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Paul (Betsy) Olson of Rogers; 4 daughters, Kristi Olson of Denver, Colorado, Ruth (Warren) Thunstrom of Isanti, Naomi (Keith) Hockersmith of Gove, Kansas, Karla (Chuck) Teasley of Illinois; 13 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; 1 sister-in-law, Bonnie Crandall of Mauston, Wisconsin; and by many other relatives and friends.