Helen F. Olson

Helen Freidericka Wessel-Olson was born on April 8, 1919 near Charter Oak, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Freda (Rademacher) Wessel. She passed away Monday, July 13, 2015 at the Manilla Manor in Manilla, Iowa at the age of ninety-six.
She was baptized by Rev. Amstein on May 18, 1919 in Charter Oak, Iowa and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith by Rev. E.E. Greene of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Dow City. Helen received her education in rural county schools in the Charter Oak area.
On October 2, 1938 Helen was united in marriage to Oluf Olson at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Dow City. They lived and farmed in the Dow City area, moving to Denison in 1960 and later to Deloit, Iowa. Helen worked at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in the Dietary Department for 19 years before retiring in 1981. Oluf passed away in 1992 and Helen remained in their home in Deloit.
She was an active member at Faith Lutheran Church in the Ladies Aid, Alter Guild, and the LWML. She loved fishing, walking, and gardening in addition to embroidering, baking, and cooking. She enjoyed fishing and playing cards with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Helen also enjoyed visiting and talking with people at Eventide while volunteering there and going to Bible class with the Aldags, Morgans, Cindy, and her special friend Sherry.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Oluf; two children, Gordon and Lyle Laverne; one granddaughter, Maggie Olson; and seven siblings, Florence, Esther, Delmar, Dorothy, Lloyd, Lila, and Lois. Survivors include seven children: Bob and his wife Roseann; Dona and her husband Rex; Wayne Olson and his wife Jan; Gene; Diana and her husband Lonnie; Debbie and her husband Creston; Cindy and her husband Ron; twenty-three grandchildren, fifty-three great-grandchildren; twelve great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Leva; many other relatives and friends.