ELMA MAVIS OLSON

Elma M. Olson, 86 of Devils Lake, ND passed away early Saturday morning, November 14, 2009 at her home with loving family at her side. Funeral Services for Elma will be held on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Jeff Nicla will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on Friday at the church one hour prior to the service. Urn Bearers for Elma will be her sons, David, Darcy, Sheldon and James Olson Music will be provided by Lynda Pearson, organist and Elma’s granddaughters Reannon, Taryn and Whitney, vocalists. A memorial fund has been established in the name of Elma Olson at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Elma Mavis, the daughter of Peder and Hannah (Flaskrud) Stenerodden was born on March 4, 1923 in the rural Maddock area where she was also raised and educated. Elma graduated from the Benson County Agriculture and Training School in Maddock with the class of 1942. Elma was united in marriage to Stanton Odell Olson on October 3, 1943 at rural Maddock. Stanton was serving in the United States Navy and after his discharge they lived for a time in Fargo and then moved to Maddock, ND. In 1955, they moved to Devils Lake where they made their home, worked and raised their family through the years. Elma’s life was one as a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Caring for her children was her priority but she also enjoyed her years of working at the Trails West Hotel. Stanton passed away on July 15, 2000. Elma continued to make her home in Devils Lake. Elma was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, the VFW Auxiliary and the Eagles Auxiliary. Whenever there was time for a hobby, Elma enjoyed sewing, quilting and doing embroidery. But the moments that meant the most to Elma was time spent with her children and grandchildren. Elma will be forever loved and forever in our hearts. Elma is survived by her loving children-David (Diann) Olson of Parker, Colorado~Darcy (Dorothea) Olson of Devils Lake~Vicki Lampman of Muskegon, Michigan~Valerie Skadsem of Devils Lake~Beth (Patrick) Corbitt of Littleton, Colorado~Sheila (Russ) Moen also of Devils Lake~Candise (Glenn) Phillips of McVille, ND~Denise Wasilowski of Everett, Washington~Monica (Eldridge) Anderson, Ithaca, New York~Sheldon (Marg Brown) Olson of Pahrump, Nevada~Shurette (John) Reither of Castle Rock, Colorado~James Olson also of Littleton, CO; There are thirty-six grandchildren, forty-two great grandchildren and one great great grandchildren; Her sisters, Linda Kelly of Seattle, Washington and Junice Giese of Phoenix, Arizona; Elma was preceded in death by her husband, Stanton; son, Gary D. Olson and seven siblings.