A memorial service for Ardella Olson will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the St. John’s Lutheran Community chapel. The Rev. Don Malinsky will officiate. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery.

Ardella passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2017, at St. John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea. She was 79.

Ardella C. (Walkner) Olson was born on Feb. 17, 1938, in Albert Lea, to Lloyd and Cleo (Simon) Walkner. She attended and later graduated from Albert Lea High School. On July 3, 1957, Ardella was united in marriage to Hans Olson. The couple was blessed with two sons, Dale and Roger. The family would make their home in Albert Lea.

Ardella worked in the catalog department for Sears and later she worked in the laundry department at St. John’s Lutheran Community for many years, as well as being a mother to two children.

She and Hans were members of the Eagles Club for many years. When Ardella wasn’t working, you could find her making beautiful paintings and drawings —she was a very talented artist. Ardella was also very tech-savvy, surfing the internet, checking her email and keeping up-to-date on her Facebook page. Ardella was a hard worker who always put other people before herself. She enjoyed living a simple life, never having too much, but always having plenty. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother.

She is preceded in death by both parents; a son, Roger Olson; and siblings Mike Walkner, Roge Walkner, Erbin “Bud” Walkner, Ilene Anderson and Gayla Lien.

Ardella is survived by her husband of 59 years, Hans, of Albert Lea; son, Dale (Rhonda) Olson of Minneapolis; grandchildren Holly Sigsworth, Calvin Olson, JoyLynn Bixler, Ryan Olson, Monica Olson, Devon Olson, and Maya Olson; great-grandchildren Hunter Bixler, Jack Sigsworth and Lily Bixler; daughter-in-law, Pam Breyl; as well as many other loving relatives.