Ruth Luella Olson

Ruth L. Olson, 95, of Vineyards Apartments, St. Joseph, MI, formerly of Blair, WI, passed away Saturday, April 09, 2016. Ruth was born on October 15, 1920 in Ettrick, WI to Anna and Daniel Myrland. She grew up in rural Blair, WI, attending the one room Hegg School. During World War II, she traveled with her family to work in the defense plants in Vancouver, WA. On November 1, 1947, Ruth married Kenneth L. Olson and they enjoyed 44 years together until his death in 1991. She was a full time homemaker, wife and mother and active in the community and Blair First Lutheran Church. In the 1970’s, she especially enjoyed traveling with her husband to many destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Australia. Ruth remained in the Blair area until 2000, when she moved to St. Joseph, MI to live near her family. Ruth is survived by her son, Gayle (Caryl) Olson of St. Joseph; three grandchildren, Jeff Olson of Memphis, TN, Michael (Maggie) Olson of Los Angeles, CA, and Jennie (Cain) Olson-Collins of San Diego, CA; and four great-grandchildren, Kendall and Quinn Olson, Sonoma and Solé Collins. Ruth was particularly grateful in recent years for the friendship of Marge Halverson of St. Joseph, Caryl’s mother, who moved to Michigan in 2012. Marge brightened Ruth’s life daily with a phone call. Private family services will be scheduled in Wisconsin at a later date. Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services will be handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Lory’s Place. Those wishing to leave an online condolence for Ruth may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.