Grete Olson

Obituary of Grete Olson

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Grete Olson

(April 13, 1923 - December 1, 2020)

 

Grete Olson of Camrose, AB, formerly of Salmon Arm, BC, Sedgewick, Prince Goerge, BC, and Bawlf, AB, passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at the age of 97 years.

 

Grete Skretting was born in Lethbridge, Alberta on April 13, 1923.  She was the second child of Gabrel and Rakel Skretting who had immigrated with their 3-month-old son, Trygve from Varhaug, Norway to Amethyst, Alberta in 1920.  Grete grew up on a farm herding sheep with her dog Brownie. She attended a one-room school near Bow City, Alberta.  She completed Grade 8 and then went to the Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute in Camrose graduating from their 3-year program in 1943.  She worked as a cook with Mary Finseth (nee Johnson), a CLBI friend, at Camrose Lutheran College until she married returning soldier Palmer S. Olson in July 1946.  They briefly lived in Camrose until he was accepted into the Lutheran Seminary in Saskatoon, SK.  Odell and Bev were born there. 

 

They moved to a three-point parish in Provost, AB in 1950.  She fell and broke her leg prior to delivering twins Grace and Gloria, in a full leg cast.  In 1954 the twins had polio as part of the epidemic of that time. Joy was born in 1955.  In 1956 they moved to Kyle, SK a 5-point parish where Rebecca (Becky) was born.  They subsequently served parishes in Birch Hills, SK; Bawlf, AB; Prince George, B.C., and Sedgewick, AB.  They retired to Edmonton in 1976, but Palmer continued to serve as supply pastor, carpenter, and manager of the Hasting Lake Bible Camp.  In 1978 they moved to a home on the eastern edge of Salmon Arm where they enjoyed golfing, cross country skiing, and visiting with friends. In 1988 Becky died while visiting New Zealand. The next year they moved back to Camrose continuing to golf and spend time with relatives and friends.  In 1998 Palmer died after a 2-year struggle with dementia.  Grete remained in their Parkview condo until she moved to Rosealta and then Seasons as she too developed dementia.  She continued to visit with Mary Finseth, her last living CLBI friend.  She broke her arm and hip in the last year of her life but recovered quickly.  She died after a short illness on December 1, 2020.

 

Grete was a Christian from birth, baptized and confirmed in the church, attended Bible School, and then served as a pastor’s wife supporting her husband, playing the organ for services, and raising six children with limited means.  She enjoyed visiting, made many friends in and out of the church wherever she lived.  She sewed clothes for her daughters, knit socks, mitts, and sweaters, and was a devoted golfer. She eagerly gave up cooking to move into Rosealta where she played Uno daily. She enjoyed walking and having coffee, with cookies.  She regularly strode the hallways of Seasons talking to staff and residents.

 

Left to cherish her memory are her children Odell (Karen) Olson of Camrose, Bev (Malcom) Dixon of Lloydminster, Grace (Ken) Hagen of Lake Alma, SK, Gloria Olson of Saskatoon, SK. and Joy (Ed) Canavor of Mississauga, ON; eleven grandchildren; and nineteen great-grandchildren.

 

Grete was predeceased by her husband Palmer; daughter Becky; siblings Trygve (Mildred) Skretting, Ruby (Johnny) Klim, Julias (Iva) Olson, Anton (Norma) Olson, Alpha (Torkel) Osness, Rudolph Olson, Roy (Geneva) Kinee, Iver (Nora) Olson, and Chester Olson.

 

A private family service was held in December. Interment has taken place in the Bawlf Cemetery.

A memorial service was held on August 14, 2021 from the Bawlf Lutheran Church. To view a recording of this service, please click on the link below:

 

https://vimeo.com/588526230/8324832feb
 
If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions in Grete's memory may be made to the CLBI, or to the Bawlf Lutheran Church, or to the charity of one's choice.

 

To view a recording of Grete's service, please Click Here

 

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