Argus Observer (Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Pauline Hazel Olson
April 20, 1914 - Dec. 23, 2008
Payette
Pauline Hazel Olson, 94, Payette, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, at Dorian Place in Ontario. She joined her husband of 68 years, Glen Olson, who passed away December 2000. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at the First Christian Church in Ontario. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Payette. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette. Condolences may be made to the family at www.shaffer-jensenchapel.com.
Pauline was born April 20, 1914, in Grandview, Idaho. She spent most of her childhood in a home on an orchard near Fruitland. She attended Fruitland and Payette schools where she was involved in music and was center on her basketball team at 4 feet 11 inches.
Pauline met Glen at Payette Christian Church when he came to her to ask if she would help him with some music. That combination defined much of their life — music and the church. They performed in operettas together at Payette High School. Numerous people in the community had the two of them sing and play for their weddings; they also sang and played for many funerals. They were both very active in serving in the church. She played the organ and piano for many years there. In her active years, Pauline had a real passion for teaching the Word of God. She taught several Bible classes —sometimes teaching children, sometimes teens, sometimes adults.
Pauline was also involved with The Park Improvement Club on the Oregon Slope, Christians Women’s Club, teaching piano and was always working alongside Glen on their farm on the Slope where they lived most of their married life. It wasn’t unusual to see her driving a truck or tractor.
She is preceded in death by her parents, John Leslie and Gertie Warnock; sister, Ruth Warnock Bodmer; two grandchildren; and by her husband, Glen. In a memoir penned by Pauline, she wrote under "The people I miss the most: My husband Glen. He was the light of my life. I realized I missed him most after he died." In that same memoir, she wrote about a "goal she set and met." She said, "I set a goal to see all my children raised and to become Christian and raise their kids as Christians." Then she wrote, "I saw all of my children as Christians," and they have all diligently set that same goal for their families.
She is survived by her daughter, Phyllis Stewart, and husband, George; son, Norman Olson, and wife, Patsy; daughter, Ardis Burger and husband Eldon; daughter, Glenda Buckley and husband, Jim; and son, Dwight Olson, and wife, Barbara. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. In addition, Pauline is survived by a sister-in-law, Barbara Attebery, and husband, Louie.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Ontario First Christian Church, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, ID 83661.
