Audrey R. Olson

OSHKOSH - Audrey R. (Waltman) Olson, 85, died Saturday, July 12, 2008, at the Garden County Nursing Home in Oshkosh.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 15, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Oshkosh with Pastor George T. Rahn officiating. Interment will be in Ash Hollow Cemetery near Lewellen.
Pallbearers will be Larry Peterson, Dennis Allen, Pat Thelander, Mike Waltman, Pete McGinley and Rich Mikoloyck. Honorary Pallbearers will be Pete Olson, Hadley Hill, Moe Moffat, Shawn Lake, Trevor Schwartz and all of Audrey's longtime friends and neighbors.
Memorials have been established to St. Mark's Lutheran church and the Alzheimer's Association-Great Plains Chapter.
Family and friends may sign the guest book and leave condolences online at www.holechekfuneralhomes.com.
Holechek Funeral Home in Oshkosh is in charge of the arrangements.
Audrey was born September 11, 1922, in Broadwater Neb., to Ervin and Ethel Waltman. She attended grade school at North District 8 and graduated from Garden County High School in 1941.
She then attended Hastings Beauty Academy in 1943 and became a licensed beautician in 1944. She worked for Lola Chamberlain before she was married. Later she worked for Irene Smith in Lewellen and then started Audrey's Beauty Salon in Oshkosh.
On January 5, 1947 she married Robert A Olson in Broadwater. They made their home at the Cy Kemplin farm northeast of Oshkosh. In December of 1948, their son, Jim was born during the period of the "49 blizzard." That same year they purchased the Fred Mohler ranch from Charles Hayd. In 1951, a daughter Barbara Jean was born. They continued to reside north of Lewellen for the next 42 years. They pursued their love of raising cattle and horses on the edge of the Sandhills. As their health failed they moved to Oshkosh and later to the Riverview Assisted Living in Lewellen and finally to the Garden County Nursing Home in Oshkosh where she entered into rest surrounded by her friends and family.
For many years, Audrey was a member of an Extension club and the Saddle club. She was a Member of St. Mark's Lutheran church, VFW auxiliary Post #5379 and was active in many Church circles.
She particularly enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved working in her yard. Riding horseback was a favorite pastime and she taught many young children how to ride. She had a special love of nature and the outdoors. Audrey expressed her love of nature in the many pictures she painted.
Survivors include her son, Jim and wife, Carol Olson of Oshkosh; daughter, Barbara and husband, Harlow Hill of Wauneta; grandchildren, Jennifer Ann and husband, Moe Moffat of Oshkosh, Peter Olson and wife Elizabeth of Oshkosh, Lora Joann and husband, Shawn Lake of Bayard, Jana Kay and husband, Trevor Schwartz of Minatare, Hadley Wade Hill of Wauneta; great-grandchildren, Bailee and Beau Lake, Kelsee and Kenzee Moffat, Adrienne, Jairett and Ely Olson and Jackson Schwartz; brothers, Gilbert Waltman and wife, Doris of Lebanon, Oregon, Dale Waltman and wife, June of Oshkosh; sister-in-law, Norma McGinley and husband Pat of Oshkosh; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents; nephew, Dennis Waltman; niece, Peggy Waltman; and grandson, Wesley Hill.