Mary Irene Olson

Born in Nisland, South Dakota on October 20, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Mary Juniaetta Poage Hayenga Brumitt and the late Roland Isaac Hayenga.

Mary was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her family. Mary grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota and in Ames, Iowa, where she graduated from Ames High School in 1950 and attended Iowa State College (University). She previously resided in Wadsworth, Illinois; Homosassa, Florida; Greenville, South Carolina; and most recently in Austin, Texas.

She is survived by one brother, Keith Hayenga of Petaluma, California; her three children, Steven (Heide) Olson of Grayslake, Illinois, Debra (Robert) Witt of Austin, Texas, and Lori (Brent) Nelsen of Greenville, South Carolina; seven grandchildren, Travis (Anahit) Witt, Kirsten (Michael) Erickson, Kendric (Katy) Witt, Evan (Diane) Nelsen, Heather Olson, Derek Nelsen, and Scott Olson; and five great-grandchildren.

Mary was a very gifted woman who used her many talents for the benefit of others. She worked as a Registered Medical Technologist for 7 years at Kenosha Memorial Hospital and was a member of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. She loved music and enjoyed singing in the church choir, playing handbells, playing her organ and the bassoon. As a young lady, Mary loved to act and procured many leading roles in school and local productions. Her many hobbies included golf, bridge, and square dancing. She was a talented seamstress and cook from which there were many fortunate recipients of her creative abilities. During her time in Florida, she sewed and embroidered numerous prayer blankets for a ministry of her church, the First United Methodist Church of Homosassa.

In addition to her loving parents, Mary was preceded in death by her former husband, Roy Olson, Jr., an infant daughter, Holly Beth Olson, two sisters and one brother.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 at Mount Rest Cemetery in Wadsworth, Illinois.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dignitymemorial.com for the family.