
MELBA MARLENE OLSON, passed away peacefully in her sleep January 30th, 2022. Marlene was a valiant daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was loyal and dedicated. Marlene loved her family, Church, and friends.
Marlene was born to Melba and George Whitehead on March 2, 1933. Growing up in the Whitehead family, she acquired the gift of talking, just like her mother and many of her siblings. She loved to talk and share stories. She was always the go-to person for facts, dates, and history – especially about family. She dove into genealogy and loved to learn and share about her ancestors. If you had a question about when something happened, she remembered the date (and usually the time). She had a wealth of information and was always willing to share it!
She married her sweetheart, and forever companion, Jack Hardy Olson on July 28`th, 1954 in Cardston, Alberta. They had five children: Thomas Olson, Stephen (Barbara) Olson, Michael (Debborah) Olson, Colette (Mark) Williamson, and Brad (Trina) Olson. Marlene especially adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She leaves quite a posterity: 32 grandchildren (with 2 deceased) and 65 great-grandchildren! Marlene started many traditions in her children’s lives that are still continued today. What a blessing those traditions are to be passed from generation to generation.
Her grandchildren loved her stories. She had an art of telling stories, both fact and fiction. All of her grandchildren have fond memories of them sitting on her bed while she told stories. She loved her grandchildren.
Marlene loved to serve others, whether it was in the gospel, to family, or to friends. She was so dedicated to the gospel. She loved to read the scriptures, attend the Temple and participate in activities. She was especially passionate about Primary. Her favorite callings in the Church were in Primary. She served in almost every capacity in Primary: taught, played the piano, led the music, as well as Ward and Stake Primary Presidencies. She was so proud to have served in the Primary for several decades. She loved children.
Marlene’s siblings were very important to her, and she cherished the time with them. She looked up to and admired her brothers and had special bonds with her sister and sisters-in-law. Her siblings: Merrill -deceased (Cathy); Ritchie (Judy), John (JoAnn - deceased), Robert (Gloria), Debra – deceased (Paul) and Craig (Terry). Up until the time of her passing, her siblings helped and supported her. They visited her, drove her around, took her shopping, and kept her company for the last couple of years that she was living alone. She shared stories of how each of them had impacted her life for the better. Marlene was always telling others how good her siblings were to her. She so loved her siblings.
Marlene loved to make sure her family felt important on their birthdays. She made it a point to call each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren on their birthdays. In addition to that, she also called every niece and nephew on their birthdays. What a wonderful way she made others feel important, valued, and special! That was so important to her. Several have shared that, “Birthdays will never be the same”.
Special thanks to the staff at AgeCare Columbia for their service, friendship and help to Marlene over the past 4 years.
Marlene left a legacy of love. She will be missed, and always remembered.
The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 5th at 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lethbridge Stake Center (2410 -28 St South). Friends may meet the family at the church from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Interment to follow in the Claresholm Cemetery.
Marlene was born to Melba and George Whitehead on March 2, 1933. Growing up in the Whitehead family, she acquired the gift of talking, just like her mother and many of her siblings. She loved to talk and share stories. She was always the go-to person for facts, dates, and history – especially about family. She dove into genealogy and loved to learn and share about her ancestors. If you had a question about when something happened, she remembered the date (and usually the time). She had a wealth of information and was always willing to share it!
She married her sweetheart, and forever companion, Jack Hardy Olson on July 28`th, 1954 in Cardston, Alberta. They had five children: Thomas Olson, Stephen (Barbara) Olson, Michael (Debborah) Olson, Colette (Mark) Williamson, and Brad (Trina) Olson. Marlene especially adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She leaves quite a posterity: 32 grandchildren (with 2 deceased) and 65 great-grandchildren! Marlene started many traditions in her children’s lives that are still continued today. What a blessing those traditions are to be passed from generation to generation.
Her grandchildren loved her stories. She had an art of telling stories, both fact and fiction. All of her grandchildren have fond memories of them sitting on her bed while she told stories. She loved her grandchildren.
Marlene loved to serve others, whether it was in the gospel, to family, or to friends. She was so dedicated to the gospel. She loved to read the scriptures, attend the Temple and participate in activities. She was especially passionate about Primary. Her favorite callings in the Church were in Primary. She served in almost every capacity in Primary: taught, played the piano, led the music, as well as Ward and Stake Primary Presidencies. She was so proud to have served in the Primary for several decades. She loved children.
Marlene’s siblings were very important to her, and she cherished the time with them. She looked up to and admired her brothers and had special bonds with her sister and sisters-in-law. Her siblings: Merrill -deceased (Cathy); Ritchie (Judy), John (JoAnn - deceased), Robert (Gloria), Debra – deceased (Paul) and Craig (Terry). Up until the time of her passing, her siblings helped and supported her. They visited her, drove her around, took her shopping, and kept her company for the last couple of years that she was living alone. She shared stories of how each of them had impacted her life for the better. Marlene was always telling others how good her siblings were to her. She so loved her siblings.
Marlene loved to make sure her family felt important on their birthdays. She made it a point to call each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren on their birthdays. In addition to that, she also called every niece and nephew on their birthdays. What a wonderful way she made others feel important, valued, and special! That was so important to her. Several have shared that, “Birthdays will never be the same”.
Special thanks to the staff at AgeCare Columbia for their service, friendship and help to Marlene over the past 4 years.
Marlene left a legacy of love. She will be missed, and always remembered.
The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, February 5th at 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lethbridge Stake Center (2410 -28 St South). Friends may meet the family at the church from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Interment to follow in the Claresholm Cemetery.