Rebecca Sue "Becky" Olson

REBECCA OLSON

ELGIN, ILLINOIS — Rebecca Sue Olson "Becky," nee Parkins, 78, passed on May 2, 2018 at Kindred Hospital, Sycamore, Illinois, after an extended illness.

She was born on July 25, 1940, in Alton, Illinois, to Grace F. Parkins and Morris R. Parkins. She attended schools in Alton, Illinois, and spent many summers at her grandmothers', Rebecca Leeds, in Pittsfield, Illinois. She graduated from Alton High School in 1958 with honors. She was a member of the National Honor Society and received the Betty Crocker Award. She received a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University in 1962, and a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counselling in 1963. She was a youth program director at the YWCA in Alton, Illinois. She was a guidance counselor and class sponsor at Larkin High School in Elgin, Illinois, from 1964 through 1970. She married Clifford J. Olson, her husband of 53 years, on Dec. 26, 1965 at the First Presbyterian Church in Alton, Illinois. Her first son, Todd Davis Olson was born on Sept. 25, 1970. Other occupations included insurance sales, benefits administrator for Thomas L. Jacobs and a proofreader for R&R Donnelly and Sons. Her second son, Andrew Jay Olson (A.J.) was born on Aug. 27, 1985. She did post graduate work at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Her interests included reading, knitting, civic activities, travel, opera, botanic gardens, and teaching Sunday school, as well as genealogy, in which she was a member of the Elgin Genealogical Society. She was the founding president of the Friends of the Library, at the Gail Borden Library in Elgin, Illinois. She belonged to four reading discussion book groups. She was a member of the National Education Association, The Illinois Education Association, and the Elgin Teachers Association. She was active in the American Association of University Women, and had served as membership chair. She was an associate member of the Elgin Area Retired Teachers Association and enjoyed the dinner group, programs and trips. The breakfast group lecture at the Little Traveler in St. Charles, Illinois, was a favorite. She received many awards for her leadership activities.

Family members she is survived by include: her husband Clifford J. Olson of Elgin, Illinois, and her sons, Todd and Andrew, also of Elgin, her sister M. Kay Overath-Durham and brother-in-law Terry Durham of Godfrey, Illinois; her nieces Mauri L. Overath of Alton, Illinois; Mrs. Andy LaFreniere (Jill) O'Fallon, Illinois, her daughters, Rubee and Lairra Unverzagt, O'Fallon (grandnieces), sisters-in-law and husbands: Rhonda Bank, Tucson, Arizona, Andrea Richards and husband Bob Richards Mankato, Minnesota; Judy Retrum and husband John Retrum, Evansville, Minnesota; Kaye Case and husband. Douglas Case, Rochester Minnesota; Terry Johnson and husband Larry N. Johnson, Colombia, Maryland. From these five families, too many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and nephews to mention.

She is also survived by brother-in-law, Charles Winker, St. Charles, Missouri, (her sister Jean's husband) and his children, Steven Winker of Juneau, Alaska; son Ryan Winker of Seattle, Washington; Mrs. Richard Costanza (Suzanne), St. Charles, Missouri; their sons, Mario and Matthew Costanza and their wife and fiancée. Jean's other daughter, Mrs. Phil Owen (Stephanie) and their daughters Samantha and Kayla of San Rafael, California.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her sister, Evelyn Jean Winker, who passed May 14, 2003, at age 68, brother-in-law, Larry Joe Overath, April 26, 2001, age 56; son Matthew Overath, who died in infancy Sept 1962.

She requested these memorials:

World Literacy Foundation, P.O. Box 44

Grandville, MI 49468

AAUW Scholarships fund, send checks to:

Rachel Campbell, 1198 Blackhawk Dr, Elgin, IL 60120

(make checks out to: AAUW Elgin Branch [scholarship on memo line])

Her Favorite Quote is from Carl Sagan, Cosmos:

"What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."

She was a loving sister, daughter, wife, mother, aunt, great aunt, friend and lifelong student. Many people appreciated her wit, satire and "wicked" sense of humor. She is blessed to be missed and remembered by many.

Her favorite Bible passage was John 3:16.

She requested no funeral services be held. Her remains will be interred in Valhalla Cemetery in Godfrey, Illinois, alongside her parents. Cardinal Funeral & Cremation Services, Ltd of Elgin are in charge of private cremation, please sign the guestbook at cardinalfuneral.com.