Olive Tovson, 75

Published 12:00 am Saturday, May 8, 2010

Olive A. (Miss T) Tovson, beloved aunt, sister-in-law, cousin, teacher, mentor and friend; passed away peacefully at Mercy Hospital, Coon Rapids, on May 5, 2010. Olive was born in Albert Lea to Selmer and Dagmar (Olson) Tovson, on Jan. 31, 1935.
Olive was a missionary teacher in Garoua Boulai, Cameroon for five years, then moved to Jos, Nigeria and taught at Hillcrest School for 21 years. She taught French at Kuwait University for three years until the Gulf War interrupted her career. Olive spent the last 19 years residing in Arizona. She was very active at New Spirit Lutheran Church in Tucson. Due to declining health, she recently moved to Minnesota to live with family.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Joyce, in infancy; her parents, Dagmar (Olson) and Selmer Tovson; sister, June Diers; and step mother Mildred (Newgard) Tovson.
She is survived by her brother-in-law, Glenn (Betty) Diers of Winsted; nephew Mark (Patty) Diers of Howard Lake; nieces Janis (David) Judd of Shakopee, Carol (Gary) Davis of Baudette, nephew Dean (Michele) Diers of Oak Grove; nine great-nieces and -nephews; many cousins; and beloved friends.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at Solid Rock Lutheran Church, 737 Bob Ehlen Drive, Anoka, and at 10 a.m. Monday, May 10, at New Spirit Lutheran Church, 8701 Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, with private interment in Howard Lake.
Memorials are preferred to the family. Washburn-McReavy Seman Coon Rapids Chapel, (763) 767-1000, is assisting the family.