Margaret Olson

The family of Margaret Olson, beloved wife of the late Melvin Olson, announce her passing at the Herbert & District Integrated Healthcare Facility, Herbert, SK on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at the age of 94 years.

Anna “Margaret” Olson was born February 26, 1925 to Harry & Anna (Arntson) Simes on a farm one mile south of Tadmore, SK. When Margaret was very young the family moved to the Arntson homestead northwest of Crystal Lake not far away. There, she grew up with her three brothers to look out for her.

Margaret loved school and as time passed, she graduated as a teacher. Her first teaching job was at Elbow Lake school, only a quarter mile from the Olson farm where she met Melvin. Margaret & Melvin were married on February 26, 1949, on her 24th birthday. They were together for 69 years. They had two children, Ellie and Len.

In 1952, Margaret & Mel moved their family to Flin Flon, MB where Margaret taught school for many years. She was very active during her time in Flin Flon, helping out at the Baptist Church and other charities. She spent many hours sketching pictures of almost anything her children and grandchildren could think of.

In 1979, Margaret & Mel moved to the Swift Current area where once again she was very active in the Alliance church and canvassed for many charities. Margaret got back to her love of artwork and took lessons from Bernie Brown, a local artist from the area, and won awards for her artwork. Margaret spent many hours crocheting, her family all have pieces of her beautiful doilies. Mel cut many things out on the scroll saw that Margaret would paint, they were a good team.

Margaret had a very green thumb and grew many plants, some of which got too big for their home and found a new home at the mall.

Margaret was also the family historian. Her stories of the Simes ancestors coming from Norway to Minnesota and then settling in the Tadmore, SK area were enjoyed by all.

Margaret & Mel spent a lot of time touring Southern Saskatchewan, as well as many parts of Canada and the United States. Margaret & Mel lived on their own, helping each other until their nineties.

Margaret is survived by her daughter, Ellie (Abbotsford, BC); her son, Len (Debbie) (Flin Flon, MB); her grandchildren, Scott Derksen, Darrin (Christy) Derksen, Wanda (Dallas) Klarenbach, Dean (Susan) Olson, and Michael (Yfrelle) Olson; and by her twelve great-grandchildren.

Margaret was predeceased by her husband, Melvin; her granddaughter, Connie Derksen; and by her brothers, Allan, Lewis, and Norman.

Mom was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother as well as an aunt to many nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all.

At this time, the family would like to thank all the staff at the Herbert long-term care facility for the wonderful care given to our Mother over the years.

God bless you, Mom.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Margaret Olson, please visit our floral store.