Obituary of Gertrude Bertha Olson

Gertrude "Gertie" Olson is survived by her loving family of three children, 8 grandchildren ,7 great grandchildren and many nieces & nephews. Her surviving children and their children are her daughter , Roberta Hanson, her husband Lowell of Dacula, GA. And their 2 children, Jeffrey Hanson of Greensboro, GA., and Bari Freeman of Denver, NC. Her daughter, Marlene Rink, her husband Bob of Shoreview, MN, and their 4 children, Elizabeth McDunn of Bozeman, MT. Jennifer Millington of St Paul, MN, Ben Rink of Champlain, IL Andy Rink of Edina MN. Son Eugene Olson of Lawrenceville, GA. And his 2 children, Patricia Olson, of Denver, CO. and Martha Olson, of Atlanta, GA. Gertrude was originally from DeSmet, South Dakota where she grew up on the family farm. At an early age she left the farm, moved to Minneapolis, MN attended school and became a hairdresser. After being married and raising her three children, Gertrude went back to work as a director of the Personal Care unit of the Glen Lake Sanatorium where she cared for the elderly and their personal care needs. She also was in charge of teaching retarded children how to care for themselves for personal hygiene. She retired from the State of Minnesota after 20 years and spent her retirement playing golf, gardening, quilting, and splitting her time with her children and their families in Minnesota and Georgia. Gertrude and her late husband, Harold loved to travel, especially to Harlingen, TX, in the winter where they would oversee the care of the orange groves that they owned. Gertrude leaves behind a legacy of accomplishments to family, friends, acquaintances, and fellow church parishioners. She was very active in many volunteer ministries with her church and community where she gave of her time and talents helping others less fortunate. Gertrude was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Richfield, Minnesota and more recently a member of Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church in Dacula, Georgia. Gertrude is the last of a family of nine children and the last of all of her contemporaries. She has served this life well and will be welcomed by God and all those who have gone before her from this place to her new life everlasting home where her Christian belief will take her. She will be sorely missed and has definitely left her mark on this world and those who knew her. A memorial service will be held for Mrs. Olson at the Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church in Dacula, Georgia on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in her name to The American Heart Association.