Mary Ann Olson died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, November 13, 2022. She had celebrated her 91st birthday just 11 days before. She lived a long, wonderful life; she loved Jesus and was strong in her faith. Mary Ann was born in Wolbach, Nebraska in 1931 to Bud and Pauline Bower and moved to Oakland, California as a child. Eventually her family moved to Escalon when she was in High School. It was there that she started attending Saron Lutheran Church and where she met her future husband Paul Richard Olson. They married February 14, 1954. They were married until 1982, when he unfortunately passed away. Together they raised their three children, Paul, Debbie, and Mark, in Escalon, and continued to be involved in the community and church.

She became an insurance agent in 1989. She retired in 1994 to watch her grandkids (joyfully). She was very involved in her church. She was on the church board many times and was the first female church board president. She organized the church Smorgasbord and Kris Kringle Market many times. Her family was everything to her. She loved to spoil her grandkids, baking cookies, reading to them, and playing games. She used to say her grandkids weren’t spoiled, just well loved.

She enjoyed sewing and made many of her own outfits, including her wedding dress. Her flower garden was always beautiful, and she spent many happy hours tending to her flowers. She loved to bake Swedish coffee bread for her kids and grandkids on their birthdays. And she loved the holidays, decorating and baking and shopping, especially Christmas shopping on Black Friday.

She has gone to join her parents, beloved son Paul and husband Paul Richard “Dick” and is now at peace with our Lord. Mary Ann will be deeply missed by her two remaining children Debbie (John) and Mark (Teresa) and her grandchildren, Derek, Dylan, Frankie, and Gracie. She will be remembered for her unending love, encouragement, wisdom, faith, and commitment to family.

A funeral service will be held Friday, December 9 at 10 a.m. at Saron Lutheran Church, with burial service immediately after at Burwood Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given to Saron Lutheran Church of Escalon.

The Escalon (Calif.) Times

Dec. 7, 2022