Alice B. Olson

Alice B. Olson, age 90, passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at The Maple Wood in Bloomer. She was born June 5, 1923 in New Richmond to Benjamin and Alice Gertrude (Fleming) Boardman. Because of her excellence at River Falls Teacher’s College, she was recruited as an English teacher for Osceola School District before finishing her senior year. There she met Bill Olson and, after the end of WWII, they were married. Alice continued working as a teacher in several school districts, including Bloomer. She then became the driving force behind the scenes at Olson Funeral Home. She took great pride in keeping the funeral home, her apartment upstairs and the farm all in top-notch condition. She loved her horses and her dogs, taking great pains to be sure they were well fed and exercised. She enjoyed playing cards (especially bridge), baking doughnuts, bread, coconut and custard pies, going on brisk walks, traveling, dancing, trail riding and was an excellent seamstress, cook, gardener, hostess, knitter and furniture refinisher. No project was too extensive for her to tackle…the more difficult, the better. She was a very active member and served in leadership positions of The Bloomer United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, the Bloomer Woman’s Club, Bloomer Eastern Star and Bloomer Hospital Auxiliary. Alice said that serving others was one of life’s greatest joys and that’s how she will be remembered.

She is survived by her children: David (Karin) Olson of Bloomer and Deborah (Jeff) Davis of Prescott; sisters: MaryJo Boardman of New Richmond and Beda (Tom) Lewis of Hastings MN; grandchildren: Katie (Justin) Paki, Benjamin (Abbi) Olson, Meghan Olson, Emily (Joe) Price, Amanda (Clayton) Hinds and Erin (Cory) Franson; great-grandchildren: Isaac and Brady Hinds, Noah and Ava Olson, Aria Franson; sister-in-law: Elaine Boardman; foreign exchange students: Kay Lass of Germany and Rune Henningson of Norway; numerous other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Ben and Gertrude Boardman; husband: Bill; brothers: F. Keith and Benjamin Boardman; sister-in-law: Lois Boardman.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Bloomer. Burial will be in the Bloomer City Cemetery. There will be a visitation from 4:00 – 8:00 on Monday at the Olson Funeral Home in Bloomer and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church.