Obituary: Olson, Shirley Yvonne (Nelson)
Age 85
Shirley was born on January 12, 1930, the youngest of three sisters, to Cora and Henry Nelson in Leeds, North Dakota.
She attended grammar and high school in Leeds.
Shirley’s musical talent was recognized early when she sang a solo for her church at the age of three.
Shirley loved school and was involved in many activities, especially music.
She graduated in 1948 as the Salutatorian of her class and moved to Fargo, ND to attend college.
She met her future husband, Bert, at a dance in 1949.
They married in June of 1950, just in time for Bert to be recalled to active duty during the Korean War.
Shirley’s next stop was Ft. Belvoir, Virginia where Bert was stationed.
Their oldest daughter, Cyndie, was born in an Army hospital at Ft. Belvoir.
Completing the Army duty in 1952, a new job was offered in Anchorage, Alaska and they headed north.
Shirley learned to ski, continued with her music and church work, not to mention becoming the mother of two more children, Diane and Dan.
In 1957 Craig was born in North Dakota and then the family moved to Pullman.
Shirley worked at the WSU Veterinary Medicine office, at the Student Book Corporation, took care of four kids, sang in the Trinity Lutheran Church choir, became a member of PEO and the Pullman Women’s Golf Club.
After Bert’s retirement from WSU in 1983, the couple moved to Spokane for a time.
Shirley was busy as Director of the Sons of Norway Chorus and doing volunteer work.
They moved back to Pullman in 1991.
The couple traveled to Europe in 1979, 1986 and 1987 and to Australia in 1999 to celebrate their upcoming 50th wedding anniversary.
Shirley was a wonderful wife, a lovely and enthusiastic mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a musician, golfer, skier, and a friend to everyone she met.
She is survived by her four children, Cyndie (Tom), Diane (Kevin), Dan (Nancy), Craig (Joanna), five grandchildren Raen, Lori, Jorgen, Jori, Nik and four great-grandchildren Danielle, Sadie, Wade and Gavin.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and one sister.
The viewing will be held from 2PM to 6PM on Wednesday at Kimball Funeral Home, Pullman, WA.
The memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, April 10, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pullman.
Private family interment will take place at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA.
KIMBALL FUNERAL HOME is caring for the family.
Memorial donations are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church, 1300 NE Lybecker St., Pullman, WA 99163.
Online condolences may be sent to www.kimballfh.com