Helen Olsen

Helen Galena Olsen was born February 9, 1917 to Karl and Petra (Nelson) Kvaale in Shelburne Township, Lyon County, east of Tyler, Minnesota on the family farm. At the age of 5 the family moved into Tyler. She was baptized and confirmed at First English Lutheran Church in Tyler. She attended country school and graduated from Tyler High School in 1935, after which she worked at Stork Produce. Helen married Haugbert Olsen and their union was blessed with one son, Dennis. She lived in Ruthton for a few years and later moved into Tyler. In 1945 she began work as secretary to the superintendent of the Tyler schools. She retired after 34 years in 1979. In April 2011, Helen entered Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Tyler following a stroke. She died there September 7, 2011 at the age of 94 years, 6 months, and 28 days.
Helen was a member of First English Lutheran Church where she helped with release time and was a member of the Ladies Aid/WELCA. She volunteered at Sunrise Manor Nursing Home. She enjoyed shopping, reading, cooking and baking, and especially liked trips out to the farm to visit her sister, Evelyn “Spin” Trautman. She also enjoyed traveling with her sisters and brothers-in-law to Utah and different states and to visit relatives who lived in other cities.
Helen is lovingly remembered by her son, Dennis Olsen of Tyler, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Dan Olsen, Darcie (and Steve) Skaug, and Douglas (and Roxanne) Olsen; eight great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Jillian, Alexandria, Derek, Jordan, Karli, Jeno, and Sabin; two great-great-grandchildren, Skyler and Collin; two sisters, Evelyn “Spin” Trautman of Tyler, Minnesota, and Dorothy (and Allan) Hansen of Alexandria, Minnesota; and her very good friend, Betty Gustafson of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson, David; and five sisters, Borghild Smith, Marie Pickering, Clara McCalpin, Nora Sorenson, and Pearl Brygger.