Blanche V Olson

Celebration of Life Services for Blanche V. Olson will be held Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the Christian Homes Care Community Chapel in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Craig Roberts officiating. Private family inurnment will be held prior to the services at the Moses Hill Cemetery in Phelps County, Nebraska.

Blanche Viola Olson, 102 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Thursday, July 26, 2018, at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. Blanche was born on April 19, 1916 in Peoria, Illinois, to Henry and Hannah Macy (Dively) Krempp.  In 1924, after her mother's death, she and her two sisters came to Holdrege to live with her mother's sister, Clara and her husband, George Fleishman. She attended grade school at District #24 and graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1933. Blanche then taught at District #72 country school, south of Holdrege, having 17 students in grades 1 through 8. She remembers bringing water in 5 gallon cream cans to school, hauling coal in for the furnace, sweeping the floors with sweeping compound, and monitoring the playgrounds.

On April 14, 1934, she was united in marriage to Carl Vilner Olson and to this union one son, Bobby Vilner Olson was born. The family made their home near Holdrege, where Blanche helped with the farming operation; driving the tractor, irrigating, and raising chickens. She always had a large garden, and enjoyed canning fruits, vegetables and meat. A highlight was getting electricity in 1950!  In 1985, the couple moved into Holdrege, and in March of 1991, Vilner preceded her in death. Blanche began to make her home at Christian Homes in Holdrege in 2014, where she enjoyed playing cards and dominos (by her rules).

Through the years, Blanche clerked at O.P. Skaggs Grocery, Lumpkins IGA, and Paige's Bungalow Grocery in Holdrege, retiring in 1978. She enjoyed quilting and volunteering at the Senior Center with the quilters. Family was very important in her life and she especially cherished the time spent with her grandchildren and their families.

Blanche loved Jesus and had a strong faith. She and Vilner attended Trinity Evangelical Free Church and then at Moses Hill Evangelical Covenant Church, where she was a faithful member and was baptized by Rev. Dolan Rundquist with water from the Jordan River. She used her talents and taught Sunday school for many years, served as Sunday school superintendent and taught Bible School. Blanche was also very active in the WMS and served as secretary for many years.

Besides her parents and husband; she was preceded in death by her sisters: Effie Bambrough and her husband, Bill; Marie Nelson Moore and her husbands: MJ Nelson and Newt Moore; Jennie Davis and her husband, Warren; and Ruth in infancy; and two brothers: Henry Krempp Nagel and LeRoy in infancy.

Blanche leaves to celebrate her life; her son, Bob Olson and his wife, Harolynn of Kearney, Nebraska; grandchildren: Micki Norberg and her husband, Gene of Funk, Nebraska, and Craig Olson and his wife, Barbara of Lakeland, Florida; 5 great-grandchildren: Angela Graddy and her husband, Paul of Funk; Carl Norberg of Phoenix, Arizona; Kylie Killion and her husband, Grant of Kansas City, Missouri; Luke Olson and his wife, Keisha of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Kirby Starks and her husband, Jared of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 5 great-great-grandchildren: Emma, Vincent, Annie and Barrett Graddy, and Shepard Starks; along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Memorial book signing will be held Tuesday, July 31, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial will be established in Blanche's honor, and kindly suggested to the family for later designation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com