Eileen Olsen

Eileen A. Olsen passed away on Saturday November, 27, 2010, at the Knute Nelson nursing home in Alexandria, Minnesota. Eileen was born on October 13, 1923, to James and Elizabeth (Banney) O_Keeffe in Crystal Creek, New South Wales, Australia. She was one of 15 children. In 1944, she met and married Ted Olsen, whom she met in Brisbane, Australia, where he was being treated for wounds sustained while fighting in New Guinea in World War II. In 1945, Eileen immigrated to the United States, where she and Ted farmed near Holmes City, Minnesota. Eileen is survived by five children, Robert T. Olsen (Emily) Yuma, AZ; Virginia M. Lund (Richard) Alexandria, MN; Daniel J. Olsen (Jeanne) East Bethel, MN; Elizabeth A. Johnson (DuWayne) Crystal, MN; Dennis P. Olsen(Tammy) Duluth, MN; sister, Veronica (Bonnie) Verstege of Brisbane, Australia; two brothers-in-law, Alan Olsen and Joe Rutherford; one sister-in-law, Vivian Olsen; seven grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ted, her parents, and 13 siblings. Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, December 4, 2010, 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Alexandria. Pallbearers were Jeff Lund, Tim Dybevik, Jim Olsen, Bill Barott, Bob Carothers, and Ken Olsen. Burial was at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Services were directed by Anderson Funeral Home, Alexandria, Minnesota.