Theda Lee Olson
January 19, 1922 – November 3, 2021
Theda Olson of Winnipeg died peacefully at Misericordia Place on November 3, 2021, in her 100th year.
Theda was born in Silverhill, Alabama, the first child of the Rev. John and Edith Benson. She spent several years of her early childhood with her missionary parents in China, until the family moved to Kingsburg, California, where she received her primary and secondary education. She attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis and graduated with a B.A. degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.
Theda married the Rev. Otto A. Olson, Jr., in 1944 and moved in 1945 to New Westminster, B.C., where her first two sons were born, and she took on the role of homemaker. In 1951, the family moved to Saskatoon, SK, where two more sons were added to the family. The family moved in 1963 to Winnipeg, where Theda lived for the rest of her life.
After her children were born, Theda pursued further study in piano and earned her A.R.C.T. in piano pedagogy. She taught private piano lessons in her home studio for many years, in addition to serving as organist and choir director for her church in each of the places she lived. She was Organist Emerita at Messiah Lutheran Church in Winnipeg. After a series of strokes, she moved to Misericordia Place in 2018 where she continued to enjoy sharing her sense of humour with her visitors and the staff.
Theda was predeceased by her husband, Otto, in 1976 and by her first grandson, Garth, in 1982. She is survived by her four sons, John (Treva), Chester (Gail Hamilton), Mark (Lindsay), and Kenneth (Elizabeth); six grandchildren, Johanna, Kristjon, Gavin (Stacey), Gwenda (Brian Shaw), Garet (Jinxuan Wang), and Graeme; four great-grandchildren, Shane, Ruby, Louise, and Brianna; her sister, Donna Barnett; and five nieces and two nephews.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later time when it is safe to do so. The family would like to thank the incredible staff at Misericordia Place for their wonderful care.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Theda Olson Wednesday November 3rd 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba