Mary Olson

Mary (Barr) Olson, age 84, of Mesa, AZ, died February 3, 2014, in Mesa, Az.

A memorial service will be held on April 5th at 11 AM at St. John's Catholic Church in Ortonville, Minn., with visitation one hour prior to the service. Following the service Mary will be laid to rest with her husband, Peter Vincent Olson at Mound Cemetary.

Mary Catherine Barr Olson was born in Ortonville, Minn., to Samuel A. and Julia Weber Barr on April 5, 1929. She graduated from Ortonville High School in 1947 and worked as a telephone operator for NorthWestern Bell in Minneapolis and Ortonville.

Mary was united in marriage to Peter V. Olson at St. John's Catholic Church in Ortonville on June 25, 1948. The couple lived in Mellette, Miller and Huron, S.D., until May of 1950 when P.V. was transferred to Pierre as a construction foreman for NorthWestern Bell.

Mary and P.V. were blest with the birth of a son, Thomas Joseph, on July 12, 1961. Thomas graduated from Riggs High School in 1979 and from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1984.

P.V. retired in 1979 from NorthWestern Bell/US West after 39 years of service.

Mary Catherine and P.V. traveled in the winter months and enjoyed spending time with Tom in California. P.V. passed away in March of 1988.

Mary Catherine continued working for Merriman Printing and Personal Group until 1997. In July of 1999, she moved to Mesa, Ariz., where she and P.V. had spent many winters, and to be closer to Tom in California.

She made many good friends in Mesa where she volunteered with Talking Books for the Blind and Banner Baywood Hospital, where she had volunteered for 14 years.

Mary Catherine enjoyed a full and happy life with many dear friends and family. Mary always met strangers and friends alike with a cheerful smile. She had a quick wit and a hug for everyone. She loved to travel, crochet, line dance and play cards. She was dearly loved by everyone who was lucky enough to meet her. She will be deeply missed by all her many friends and family.

Mary passed away on Feb. 3 in Mesa, Ariz.

She leaves to mourn her son, Tom, and his wife, Pamela, of San Diego, Calif.; nephews Michael Barr and family of La Grange, Ky., Steven Barr and family of Ortonville, Minn., and Timothy Barr and family of Breckenridge, Minn.; three nieces and their families, Joanna Haug of Grand Forks, N.D., Susan James of
Vancouver, Wash., and Mimi Haug of Del Mar, Calif.



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