The memorial service for Grace Marie Tomson of Albert Lea will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Christ Episcopal Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Henry  L. Doyle will officiate. Interment later will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 am. to 11 a.m. prior to the service at the church.

Grace passed away Oct. 27, 2012, at St. John’s Lutheran Home under the excellent and loving care of the St. John’s staff who had been caring for her for the last eight months.

Grace was born Aug. 28, 1922, to Nick and Inger (Bonnerup) Olsen on a farm in Albert Lea Township. She attended grade school ain Clarks Grove and graduated in the class of 1940 from Albert Lea High School. While going to high school she wrote Clarks Grove news for the Albert Lea Tribune. On April 6, 1941, she married James A. Tomson and resided in Albert Lea and worked for E. H. Rusham Insurance. In 1943 she moved to San Jose, Calif., where Jim was working with the Navy Sea Bees. When Jim left for overseas duty she moved back to Albert Lea. In 1945 she moved to Providence R.I. where her husband Jim was attached to the Navel Air Station. In 1946 she moved back to Albert Lea were she was Licensed Insurance agent for the next 40 years. She also raised and showed silver poodles over a span of 20 years. She retired in 1986. Every year she and Jim traveled until they found a place in Mazatlan, Mexico, where they spent part of the next 23 winters. Her hobbies were traveling, hunting, fishing and driving the boat pulling water skiers. Grace and Jim also spent many years enjoying the golf course. Grace was an officer for many years for the Danish Brother and Sisterhood. She also was a member of the American Legion and VFW Auxiliary. The last years she spent much of her time at Christ Episcopal Church taking care of the altar. She prepared the linens, baked the communion wafers, oiled the candles and igniters and prepared for all the services. She loved being part of the church.

Grace is survived by her husband James A. Tomson and nephew Tom Olsen and his partner Maurice Anderson.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents and brother Harry A. Olsen.

Thanks to all the people at St. John’s Lutheran Home, relatives and friends who made Grace comfortable her last eight month.

In lieu of flowers a charitable donation to Christ Episcopal Church would be appreciated.