Funeral services for Virginia C. Olson, age 95, formerly of Hartland, will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 12, at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Hartland. Rev. Dennis Frank will officiate. Interment will be in Hartland Cemetery. Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. today at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Jean died Saturday, May 8, 2004, at the New Richland Care Center.

Virginia Carvel Olson was born Sept. 25, 1908, to Sidney Roderick and Lura Edna (Seath) Miller in Carlston Township, Freeborn County. She graduated from Freeborn High School in 1926. On Aug. 31, 1926, Jean was united in marriage to Gilford Herman “Giffy” Olson at the parsonage in Freeborn. She and her husband operated the Olson Furniture Store and Funeral Home in Hartland for many years. Jean had moved to Hartland in 1927 and remained there until moving to the New Richland Care Center in 2000. She was an active member of the Cross of Glory Lutheran Church, had taught Sunday school for many years, served as officer of the church women, sang in the choir and in a quartet, belonged to the quilting group, and was a long-time member of the Dorcas Circle. Jean was a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the senior citizen’s group and served on the board of the American Red Cross for several years. Her main interests were reading, music, and travel. Jean was proud of the fact that she had traveled to 50 different countries and all of the continents except Antarctic. She had a good sense of humor and always enjoyed a joke that she could tell at the nursing home. Jean enjoyed being with her children and grandchildren and will be greatly missed by all of us.

Survivors include her children: Gwendolyn C. Christensen of Albert Lea, Leslie M. and his wife Dolores Olson, James S. and his wife Sharon Olson, and Kathryn V. and her husband Duane Spooner, all of Hartland; 14 grandchildren: Jeffrey Christensen, Pamela Folkens, Jennifer Milton, Nancy Toot, Debra Flatness, Kimberly Peterson, Amy Brown, Anna Durst, Birgitt Langrud, Michael Olson, Brenda Johnson, Bradley Spooner, Tamara Krueger, and Robert Spooner. 32 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; brother, Keith and his wife Micki Miller of Freeborn; sister, June Johnson of Albert Lea; sister-in-law, Pauline Miller of Northwood; brother-in-law, John D. and his wife Jackie Olson; sisters-in-law: Audreene and her husband Donald Smith, and Audrey and her husband Duane Bethke; and many nieces and nephews.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gilford; son, G. Stanley Olson; son-in-law, M. John Christensen, sister, Lucille and her husband Lee Dillavou; brother, Philip Miller; brother-in-law, Orville Johnson; and in-laws: Manley and Alma Olson, Harriet and George Rasmussen, and Lucille and Herbert Sponberg.