Obituary of Selma Amanda Olson

OLSON- Mrs. Selma Olson, age 85, late of Shellbrook, passed away in the Shellbrook hospital on Tuesday, February 24, 2009. Selma was born on the home farm in the Cameo District on August 14, 1923 to Jonas and Sofia Tunem. She was the youngest of eight children. She took her schooling at Bygland School, taking her grade nine and ten by correspondence at the school. After her schooling she worked at home for a while, then ventured out. Her first job was at the City Hospital in Saskatoon. From there she moved to Wetaskiwin, Alberta to help her sister Lily run the Lutheran Care Home for the aged. She then went to Calgary to take the Certified Nursing Assistant Course, finishing her training at the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Edmonton and the Pincher Creek Hospital. After she graduated she worked on the pediatric ward at the Aberhart Memorial Sanatorium in Edmonton. Olaf and Selma were married October 25, 1958 in Concordia Lutheran Church. They settled on the Olson farm in Ordale, and they had a family of four. Life was busy on the farm but Olaf and Selma counted it a blessing to have grown up on a farm and to have been able to raise their own family on a farm. Selma loved her home, and enjoyed gardening, baking, and taking long walks in the country. Her home was always welcoming, with family and neighbours frequently stopping by, and the Evangelical Lutheran Women's group often meeting there. Selma loved her music, singing with a gospel sextet during her years in Alberta. When she returned home she was the organist at Concordia Church for many years playing for numerous funerals, weddings, and special occasions. There was always music in Selma's house, if she was not singing or playing the piano she would be humming her favorite melodies, often hymns, as she worked. Selma and Olaf moved to Shellbrook in 2000 and found many wonderful new friends and neighbours there. Selma suffered from osteoporosis which over time limited her mobility and inflicted increasingly severe pain. She showed great dignity in the face of suffering deriving her strength from her unfailing faith in God. In January 2009, Selma's frailty forced her to move to Parkland Terrace Nursing Home. Throughout her last difficult years Selma greatly appreciated the compassion and kindness shown by her caregivers. There was much that was joyful in Selma's life. Her music, humour and love of life have touched everyone who knew her and will always be in our hearts and thoughts whenever we remember her. Selma leaves to mourn, her husband, Olaf of Shellbrook; her children, Orin Olson of Prince Albert, Sidney Olson (Diane Pugh) of Prince Albert, Norman Olson of Shellbrook, Sharon Olson of Spruce Home; her brother, Harold Tunem of Shellbrook; her sister-in-law, Edna Tunem of Shellbrook; her brothers-in-law, Orville Agrey of Parkside, Ivan Dalseide of Morris MN; numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by, her parents, Jonas and Sofia Tunem; her sisters, Anna Swanson, Lily Tunem, Hilda Tunem, Gladys Dalseide; her brothers, John Tunem, Bennie Tunem; her sisters-in-law, Clara Tunem, Norma Agrey; her brother-in-law, Knute Swanson; her nephew, Allan Swanson; her great-nephew, Jeffrey Kacher. The funeral service was held on Friday, February 27 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Shellbrook with Pastor Doug Schmirler as officiant. The pianist was Janet Gray, and there was special music by Morris and Colleen Moberg. The pallbearers were Richard Agrey, Raymond Agrey, William Kacher, Normand Painchaud, Darryl Gray and Stanley Skavlebo. The honorary pallbearers were the Parkland Home Care Nurses. Memorial donations may be made to the Evangelical Lutheran Broadcast on CKBI, or to the Shellbrook and Districts Health Services Project. Interment was in the North Concordia Cemetery.