Obituary: Olsness, Helen M.
OLSNESS,
Helen M.
(Age 97)
Helen was born on September 29, 1914 in Spangle, Washington to Albert and Emilie Rush.
Weighing a mere 2.5 pounds at birth, she was placed into a warming oven in the family kitchen.
She survived against the odds and lived to the ripe age of 97.
She was raised on the family farm in Spangle, educated in a one-room schoolhouse, and then graduated from Lewis & Clark High School in 1932.
She had two older brothers, Richard and Harold.
She then went on to attend Kinman Business University in Spokane where she became president of the Thompson Chapter of Alpha Iota sorority.
She soon married Kenneth H. Hughes in 1934 and raised their two children, Dick and Joanne, in Spokane until Ken’s untimely death in 1949.
She worked as the secretary of the Spokane Central Lion’s Club and served as president of the Lady Lions in 1956.
This is where she met and married Fred W. Olsness in 1953.
Fred brought three children to their marriage, Donna, Rick and Diane.
The children kept her busy in scouting as she served as both den mother and Girl Scout leader.
During her lifetime, Helen felt a strong desire to give back to her community and became a leader at her local P.E.O.
International, a women’s organization focused on providing educational opportunities for female students worldwide.
From the age of 65 - 85+, Helen spent every Wednesday volunteering at Deaconess Medical Center in the surgery wing helping orient families on their day of surgery.
She was a longtime member of Manito Golf & Country Club and Manito Presbyterian Church.
She spent many summers at their lake cabin at Loon Lake entertaining friends and family, cooking and playing bridge.
She has resided for the last 15 years at Touchmark (The Waterford) in Spokane and built lasting friendships with many of the staff and residents there.
Helen passed away peacefully on February 16, 2012.
She is preceded in death by her husbands, Kenneth Hughes and Fred Olsness, her brothers Richard and Harold, her stepson, Rick Olsness, son-in-law Larry Franz and grandson Brent Staples.
She is survived by her son, Dick (Molly) Hughes, daughter, Joanne Bradley, stepchildren, Donna Franz, Diane (Bud) Staples and several grandchildren, Kara McGinn, Ken Hughes, Colleen Dillon, Terry Franz, Kathy Smith, Debbie VanNoy, Charles Staples, Brenda Reid, Kendra Olsness Mancini, Eric Olsness, Cameron Olsness, Rob Munday and many adored great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Touchmark for their special attention to Helen.
There will be a viewing at Hennessey Funeral Home from 12pm - 7pm on Sunday, February 26 and from 9:00 - 10:30 am on Monday, February 27.
The funeral service will be held at Manito Presbyterian Church, 401 E. 30th, Spokane, WA, on Monday, February 27 at 1:00 p.m., with reception following at Touchmark (The Waterford) from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to The Employees Fund at Touchmark, S. 2929 Waterford Drive, Spokane, WA 99203.
Please visit Helen’s tribute and leave a condolence at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to: