Marlene E. Olson

Marlene Evelyn Olson, age 74, of Lamar, passed away Sunday, February 26, 2012 at Barton County Memorial Hospital.       Marlene was born December 1, 1937, in London, Minnesota, one of the four children of John and Josephine (Morris) Loftaas.   On July 17, 1955, at Deer Creek, Minnesota, she married Alton Groven and this union was blessed by three sons, Stephen, Dennis, and Robert, and a daughter, Allene.  After this marriage ended in divorce, Marlene married Rodney Olson on June 25, 1969 and they had two sons, Dale and Rod.   Marlene was preceded in death by her husband Rodney; her parents; two brothers, Keith and James Loftaas; a sister, Mae Hackett; an infant son, Dale Olson; and two grandchildren, David and Matthew Groven.       In addition to being a homemaker, Marlene had worked for Wells Meat Processing Plant in Wells, Minnesota, Electricraft Manufacturing in Minnesota, and from 1981 until 1994, for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association in Missouri.  She enjoyed crocheting and many will continue to be warmed by the comfort of the blankets and afghans she shared with family and friends.  She loved to feed and watch hummingbirds and was a collector of angels, birds and ducks. Marlene treasured time spent with family and the greatest joy in her life was being a grandma. She was also a Joplin Tornado survivor.       Survivors include four sons and their wives, Stephen & Marilynn Groven, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Dennis & Shelly Groven, Aurora, Colorado, Robert & Cheryl Groven, Osseo, Minnesota, and Rod & Michelle Olson, Neosho, Missouri; a daughter, Allene & husband Ed Belcher, Sheldon, Missouri; 14 grandchildren, Timothy, Daniel, Stephanie, Joseph, Jessica, Amy, Amber, Jeremy, Aaron, Jeremy Belcher, Kim, Tiffany, Taylor, and Brent; 21 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Carol Loftaas; and several nieces and nephews.       Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 1st at Daniel Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday.  Burial will be in Jackson Cemetery in Jackson, Minnesota.