Marjorie A. Olson

Marjorie A. Olson, 84, died October 27, 2018 at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse.  She was the firstborn of Irvin and Alvah (Iverson Hovey) Olson on September 8, 1934 in Volga, South Dakota.  She graduated from high school in Madison, Minnesota and attended South Dakota State College in Brookings, S.D. and La Crosse State College focusing on Biology and Art.  She was the Marketing Manager for Barrons Department Store (later, Herberger’s) on Main Street in La Crosse and a co-owner of Mode O’Day women’s clothing shop in La Crosse.  For most of her life, she was a very talented independent artist, specializing in water color paintings and garnering many awards.  She and her parents (also talented artists) travelled around the country in their “galloping gallery” to sell their art, eventually settling in Las Vegas where Marj taught her watercolor skills and worked for the Bingo Bugle weekly paper.  Marj never married but she had many friends – mostly furry – especially her dogs Ginger, Toto and Mandy, horses and many cats, mostly named Hecate.  She was also an avid reader, wonderful cook and loved to party and shop.  Marj had a wicked sense of humor and loved scaring her nieces and nephews with her mostly bald head and wigs.  In her 60’s, she suffered health issues requiring her to live in group homes in Las Vegas and a nursing home in La Crosse.

Survivors include her brother Tom (Corrine “Corky”) Olson of La Crosse and their children, Rebekkah (Jason) Rohweder and their children Grace and Morgan of Houston, MN and Kristofer Olson (Taya Brown) of Bend Oregon; nephews, Jay and Mark Synsteby, of La Crosse and Jay’s Children Amber (Matthew) Aragon and their children Jade and Ethan of Missouri, Eric Synsteby of Missouri and Amy Synsteby of La Crosse; Mark’s son Kyle Synsteby of Las Vegas and niece Tara Quass and her children Nicholas and Abigail Woosley of Decorah, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Betty Synsteby Parker; nephew, Dale Synsteby and niece Michelle Dorry.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday November 3, 2018 at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley.   Rev. Dan Brown will officiate with burial in the Middle Coon Valley Cemetery.  Online condolences may be given at selandsfuneralhome.com.

Special thank you to the staff at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center for their excellent care the past 7 years.