Barbara Nadine Olsen

During the Great Depression in the farming heart of Deuel County, South Dakota, a baby girl was born on December 12, 1934. Her father called her “the only crop of this year.” That was Barbara Nadine Ohnstad. Her parents were Clarence Benjamin Ohnstad and Mary Anna (Aamold) Ohnstad. Barbara had two older brothers and one older sister: James, Jeanne, and John (Jack). As Barbara grew up on the farm, she learned how to help. One of her tasks was to keep watch over the sheep in the fields. She sang to the sheep. Barbara became the older sister of three more brothers: Lawrence, Donald, and Clair. The Ohnstad family moved several times to various farms in central eastern South Dakota. They spent most of their years near the small town of Estelline. In 1948 Barbara’s sister became very ill and died in the hospital at the age of 20. Just a few weeks later, Barbara had a brand new baby brother, Robert. Around age nine, a teacher suggested that Barbara get her eyes examined as she had trouble seeing the blackboard. She was very near-sighted and got glasses for the first time. She remarked that the world became real for her! She could clearly see the leaves and flowers and birds and words. Barbara loved to read. She loved to sing. Those two loves continued throughout her life.

The Ohnstad family was of Norwegian background, and faithful Lutherans. Clarence and Mary could speak Norwegian, but not in front of the children. In seventh grade Barbara met a new “country girl” who came to attend the town school, Phyllis. They became close friends for life. Barb participated in choir and plays at Estelline High School. She sang solo songs for the church and had a very good soprano voice. In 1952, as a Senior, Barbara was offered a music scholarship to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. She sang in the college choir and met a bass singer named Stephen Olsen. Barbara also took courses to become a teacher. In 1954 she earned a teaching certificate and became engaged to Steve. On January 14,1955 Steve and Barbara were married. Phyllis was now married to Barb’s brother, Jack, and was her bridesmaid. Barb and Steve moved to Seattle to start their married life. Steve’s brother, Erling, and his wife, Polly, helped them get settled. Polly and her three young children (Karen, Jay, and Chuck) took Barb all over Seattle to find a place to live, find shops and get settled. In the apartment building where they set up home, Barb became friends with her new neighbor, Midori Kamimae. They were each expecting to be mothers. Midori and Barbara became close friends. Even when their families grew and lived in different neighborhoods, the Olsen and Kamimae families stayed good friends. Every January first, the Olsens—with homemade Norwegian desserts—would go to the Kamimae house to feast on tempura and sushi and many other delights. Barbara and Steve had three daughters: Suzanne Marie, Stephanie Ruth, and Gayle Nadine. As parents they were willing to allow pets into the house. There was always a dog or a cat or both. Barbara learned to drive a car after Gayle was born. She was 26 when she got her driver’s license. Barbara sang in the church choir, often as a soloist. She was also a leader of the church women’s groups and a Sunday school teacher. When the girls were old enough for school, Barbara worked part-time in the Edmonds school district as a teaching assistant. For 10 years she was the library assistant at Hazelwood Elementary School. Barbara decided to return to college in 1985 to earn a teaching degree and become a full-time teacher. In 1988 she graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. She taught at Faith Lutheran School in Redmond, grades 4, 5, and 6.

Barbara was famous for baking and cooking. Every friend of her daughters, and neighbors, knew where to find the cookie can full of oatmeal, chocolate chip, snicker doodle or peanut butter cookies. When the television (black and white at the Olsen home) had Folger’s Coffee adds, she was often asked, “Is the coffee ready Mrs. Olsen?” And when the show, “Little House On the Prairie” was popular, she was quizzed about her store in town. She took it all in fun. Barbara loved a good laugh and conversation. She loved to chat with people and get to know them. She was not shy about asking questions or having an opinion. She was open to learning new things. She was excellent at sewing: Easter dresses for her daughters; baby blankets for her grandchildren. She was a great gardener. She loved birds and books and children and her family. She had many friends and was eager to be of help. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Edmonds until a new church was started in Lynnwood. Since then, she has been an active member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Barbara is pre-deceased by her parents, her sister Jeanne Ohnstad, her daughter Suzanne Olsen Johnson, her brothers James, Jack, Lawrence, Donald, and Clair Ohnstad. Her nephews Charles Olsen, Douglas Zabel, Daniel Ohnstad, her great-nephews Isaiah Hunt and Christopher LaMera, her husband of 68 years, Stephen A. Olsen, her sister-in-law Grace Ohnstad, her husband’s siblings and spouses: Erling and Polly Olsen; Darrell and Norma Zabel.

Barbara is survived by two Daughters: Stephanie (Eric) Running, and Gayle (Dale) Quinn and Son-in-law Ronald Johnson (Ruth). Grandchildren: Jina Quinn Smith (Nick), Stephen Johnson (Stephanie), Ingrid Running, Rachel Quinn Wall (Errol), Bethany Johnson, Aubrey Quinn Stone (Markus), Niels Running, Curt Cheever (Emily), Kyle Cheever, Casey Cheever (Alyssa). Great-grandchildren: Eleanor Cheever, Elizabeth Cheever, Evan Johnson, Quinn Stone, Nathan Johnson, Maddox Stone, and Eloise “Lulu” Cheever. She is also survived by her brother Robert (Nancy) Ohnstad, sisters-in-law Phyllis Ohnstad, Jan Ohnstad, Sandra Ohnstad, Elaine Ohnstad Eide, many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews and cousins.