Erma Mae Olson was born in Rosetta, Wyoming on June 24, 1929 to George and Clara Jensen. She had 6 siblings; Frederick, Virgil, Alfred, Fayette, Thelma, and her younger sister Esther. The family moved to Iowa for a spell, but eventually settled in Minnesota, where Erma grew up. In the family lore, the reason the family moved from Wyoming, in the first place, is because Grandma Clara didn’t like the snakes in Wyoming. At all.
Erma met Elvern on their big family farm. Elvern was working on the thrashing crew harvesting wheat. She was cooking for the crew that he was on.
They got married on November 15, 1947. But Elvern had to quit farming because of his asthma. Leona was just two years old when he moved the family to Washington. He didn’t have a job so he went and sat persistently outside the Weyerhaeuser Everett Mill every day until they got sick of looking at him each day and finally hired him on. He worked there until he had a work injury and had to retire.
Erma was a homemaker, until the older kids were in school. Eventually she found a job she really enjoyed as a Rehab Aid at Bethany Home. She was very good with all the patients. They loved her. She worked at Bethany for 18 years.
Erma has been described as a “farmer’s wife”. That meant she cooked simple hearty food. The only thing she couldn’t cook was a steak. On Sundays, after church, she would make sandwiches and a big bowl of pudding. After the pudding the family would all pile into the car and go for a drive in the country-side. Friends of the family had a big farm north of Marysville, and that was often the car-ride destination. Sunday was always a family day.
Erma liked many things. She was industrious - always busy. She would crotchet chair covers, afghans. She made little baby caps and donated them to the hospital. Leona learned how to knit from her mom. But Erma always knitted backwards - knitting in the opposite direction from the “normal” way it’s done. She taught herself that way and she always used to say, “I’m getting too old to change!”.
She liked hymns and spiritual music, while Elvern liked country. Erma was, in many ways, old school. Her children had to toe the line. But she always kept a big garden, really more like a farm. They raised their own beef. She had her own chickens, and, of course, her own eggs. She canned. She raised different fruits; apple trees, cherry trees. She baked. She did a lot, and was always busy. She was nothing if not hard-working and she expected the same from each of her children.
She was very close with her family. They would travel back to Minnesota to visit about every other year. Right up until Elvern passed away. In retirement they had their 5th Wheel and they could take their time and stay as long as they wanted.
The biggest influence in Erma’s life was her mother, Grandma Clara. She was a very strong person, who Erma loved dearly. Grandma Clara took care of two of Erma’s brothers who had disabilities, well into her 80s. Erma made sure to take her grandchildren and great-grandchildren out to see Grandma Clara, so that she would know them all.
She adored her grandchildren and loved baby-sitting for both the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She just loved having them over. She was the quintessential doting grandmother. In the end she had 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild, little Violet. Erma, unfortunately did not get to meet her. The family is greatly anticipating another great-great-grandchild on the way!!
Erma is a woman who will be remembered for her very strong religious faith. And who loved everyone. She gave of herself as much as she could. She made sure all attended Sunday School and Church. She would remain faithful to her beliefs throughout her life. When she was not able to make it to her Lake Stevens Covenant Church, she found a minister on TV who she really liked. She watched him all the time. She was a strong woman of faith.
Erma Mae Olsen passed away on August 9, 2022. She was 93 years old.
Erma was predeceased by her husband Elvern, who passed away 22 years ago. They had been married for 55 years. She was also preceded in death by her two youngest children: Kevin and Loren. All of her siblings passed before her.
Erma leaves behind her three children: Zendal (with Holly), Leona (with Doug), who was named after Erma’s baby doll that she treasured as a girl, and Wesley.
She is survived by 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild, little Violet. Again, everyone in the family is happily anticipating her other great-great-grandchild on the way.
We will miss this hard-working and loving family-woman, Erma. But we will cherish all the memories she made with us, deeply in our hearts, forever.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17