Hazel Olson

Hazel Henrietta Buchanan Olson, 89, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho passed away Friday, May 7, 2010 at the Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Hazel was born on September 3, 1920 at home in Crawford County, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Margaret Hadenfeldt Buchanan. She was baptized in the Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa. Hazel, at age 4, attended a rural school through 8th grade. In 1932 the family moved their dairy operation to Odebolt, Iowa where Hazel attended high school, graduating with her class of 1936. After moving to Odebolt the family joined the First Presbyterian Church. Following high school graduation Hazel attended Park College in Missouri and Penn State Teachers College in Nebraska. After obtaining her teaching certificate she taught kindergarten, first and second grade in Kirkman, Iowa and Arthur, Iowa. On October 26, 1942 Hazel married Ray Olson who was in the medical department of the U.S. Navy. Hazel continued to teach while Ray continued his service in the Pacific Theater. Following his release from the Navy in 1946 they moved to Indianola, Iowa where Ray attended college and later worked in Des Moines, Iowa. Hazel’s greatest joys were her children, Stephen (Becky) Olson of Bonners Ferry, Idaho and Suzanne Olson (George) Oehlerking of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Also eleven grand and step-grandchildren and twenty-six great and step great grandchildren and a host of friends. The family were long time members of the Presbyterian Church in Indianola where Hazel served as Sunday school teacher and in the ladies groups. In later years she was active in Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church and the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Des Moines, Iowa, and P.E.O. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Margaret Buchanan, a brother Waldon Buchanan, a step sister Leona Holst and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. She is survived by on sister Lavonne Gutzman of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Brother Gerald (Nancy) Buchanan of Fairfax, Station, Virginia, her husband Ray S. Olson and son Stephen B. Olson of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, daughter Suzanne Oehlerking of Highlands Ranch, Colorado plus many other relatives and friends. Committal services and interment will be in the Odebolt Cemetery, Odebolt, Iowa. A memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, May 15, 2010 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Des Moines, Iowa with Dean Cathleen Bascom presiding. A memorial Service at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho will be announced at a later date.