Obituary of Delaine Patricia Olson

July 15, 1935 - Outlook, Saskatchewan

February 15, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

Delaine Patricia Olson (nee Hovdestad) went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at the age of 88 years.

Delaine was born to Joseph and Lydia Hovdestad on July 15, 1935, in Outlook, SK, the eldest of nine children. She moved with the family to Elbow, SK, then settled at the family farmstead north of Swift Current, near Stewart Valley, where she was raised until she left to attend high school at Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute in Outlook, SK. This is where she met Ron Olson, her high school sweetheart, and they married in Saskatoon, SK, on July 21, 1956, where Kevin was born in 1958. They moved to Calgary, AB, in 1959, where their family grew to include Kelly, Cameron, and Brent.

Delaine deeply loved and cared for the love of her life and her high school sweetheart Ron, she was similarly devoted to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She had a servant’s heart, caring for her family in any way possible, including keeping the family home in order and making her family’s favourite “dishes” or “puddin’”. As Cam, at a young age, said, she “was a good cooker”. Her greatest gift, however, was her ability to make the Olson home a loving and completely safe place. She always had an open door for family members to live with them, including brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, and friends. Ron and Delaine’s home was a revolving door welcoming and feeding many, often with multiple cousins and friends sleeping over on the weekends.

Delaine’s heart was always to serve through her faith in Jesus. She lived a life devoted to her Saviour and taught her kids and grandkids this same devotion. She served with Ron at Peace Lutheran Church, and the two were founding church members in 1975. Delaine served in many roles over the years, including children ministry, Women's ministry, bible studies and many others. Away from the church and home, Delaine worked as an administrative assistant, starting in a senior’s home when she first moved to Calgary, as Jack Carter’s personal assistant for many years at Jack Carter’s Chev-Olds and with other organizations. She finished her career working alongside Ron at Father Lacombe Nursing Home, where she was loved and appreciated until she retired in 2000.

Ron and Delaine also loved camping from their early years with the kids in their Jasper 500 tent trailer to their retirement, where they upgraded to a luxurious fifth wheel. The yearly Olson campout was always a highlight for them, as well as for their kids and grandkids. Some campout locations included Kimberley, Fort Steele, Outlook, Vernon, Kalispell, Coeur d’Alene, and Sicamous. When they retired, they travelled across Canada, down the East Coast and west across the southern states, ending up at the Sunset Resort in Mesa, Arizona, USA. They spent the next seven winters at Sunset, making many new friends and participating in the Sunset Resort Church and choir.

Delaine always had a great sense of humour, with quick one-liners and an uncontrollable laugh. In the mid-2000s after carotid artery surgery, her family noticed a change which was ultimately recognized as a slowly progressing dementia. Ron lovingly cared for Delaine until 2022, when her declining condition caused her to move to George Boyack Long-Term Care facility, where the family visited many times a week. Thankfully, she usually recognized most visitors but often struggled to communicate in her typical joyful way. Occasionally, however, the family was thankful to see bright glimpses of her humour and laughter. Ron faithfully rode his battery-powered wheelchair two blocks from his place at Aspen Lodge to spend time with Delaine until he was admitted to the hospital in August 2023 and predeceased her on November 22, 2023. After almost 68 years of marriage, Delaine passed just three months after her beloved husband.

Delaine will be greatly missed by her three loving children, Kelly (Lew), Cameron (Susan) and Brent (Tanya); and her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will also be missed by her siblings, Lorne (Darlene), Karen (Don), Wanda (Larry), Terry (John) and Tim (Rondi); and her in-laws, Jarle (Judy), Ken (Donna), Lloyd (Betty-Lou), Larry (Irene), Sharon (Jim), and sister-in-law Kay.

She was predeceased by her husband, Ron, her son Kevin and daughter-in-law Diane; her parents Joseph and Lydia Hovdestad; siblings, Kae (Myron), Shirley (Vern), and Larry (Wendy); father-in-law and mother-in-law Alvin and Florella Olson; Ron’s siblings Vivian (Howard), Ida Gwen (Bob), Mac (Ella), Joyce (Roy), Florence (Ted), and Ed.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and care staff from George Boyack, who took amazing care of Mom up until her final breath. We were very blessed for her to be there.

Funeral Services will be held at Peace Lutheran Church  (14640 – 6th Street S.W., Calgary, AB) on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow at the church hall.

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mrs. Olson’s service streamed live (see link below) on the day of the service.

Click to Watch Delaine's Funeral Service

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Delaine’s family here.

In living memory of Delaine Olson, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.