Sandra Kathleen Olson

Sandra Kathleen Olson 73, Lake Mills, passed away at her home in Lake Mills, Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13, at Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, with Pastor Joel L. Guttormson officiating.Sandra’s family will meet and greet friends 5-7 p.m., Friday evening, Oct. 12, at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, and again one prior to the service. Inurnment will take place at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Thompson, at a later date. Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, was in charge of arrangements. The family would like to suggest that memorial be directed to Hospice of North Iowa, Mason City.
Sandra was born June 26, 1945 to Selmer and Katherine (Click) Folven in Buffalo Center, the youngest of five children. Sandra was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Thompson. She attended Lake Mills Community School and graduated in 1963.
Sandra met Harlan Olson in Crystal Lake. They were married Nov. 3, 1963 at a Lutheran church in Northwood. They made their home in Lake Mills and had two beautiful daughters.
Sandra’s love of children extended to babysitting neighborhood children in addition to raising her own girls. While living west of Lake Mills, she worked at the tavern in Scarville for her dad, while helping Harlan out on the farm. Sandra would often go to the sale barn and could be seen taking calves home in the backseat of the car. She began working at the Lake Mills Care Center as a cook after the family had moved to Lake Mills. She was regarded as a “favorite” cook to many of the residents and staff. Many also recall her time as a co-manager at Corner Stop in the pizza department where she did bookwork.
Her most treasured moments included the time she spent with family. She enjoyed gardening, fishing, bowling, horseback riding, knitting, crocheting, playing cards and Bunco. She was a very talented seamstress, knitter, and crocheter, who was able to make anything with or without a pattern. An accomplished baker and cook, she enjoyed sharing her talents by teaching other her craft.
Sandra died in her home surrounded by family while under the care of Hospice of North Iowa. She was fortunate to be able to visit with many of her dearest friends and family in the final days of her life. This was Sandra’s third battle with cancer after having beaten the disease twice before.
Sandra is survived by Harlan, her husband of nearly 55 years; her daughters: Holly (Tim) Corrigan, Twin Bridges, Mont.; and Jodi (Darin) Ruud, Lakeville, Minn.; grandchildren: Trevor Willert, Lake Mills; Katie Corrigan, Dillan, Mont.; Jacob Corrigan, Dillan, Mont.; Benjamin Corrigan, Twin Bridges, Mont.; and Erika Corrigan, Butte, Mont.; her brother, David Folven, Erie, Colo.; and was also blessed by having many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Selmer and Katherine Folven; brothers: Mason Folven and Merlin Folven; sister, Patricia (Folven) Tenold; and mother- and father-in-law, Elmer and Beulah (Jacobson) Olson.