Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Betty A. Olson

IRONWOOD, Mich. — Betty A. Olson, 82, of Ironwood Township, passed away peacefully Tuesday, July 9, 2013, at Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Community in Ironwood.

She was born July 15, 1930, in Ironwood Township, the daughter of the late Conrad and Agnes (Erickson) Walquist. She attended Roosevelt Grade School and Luther L. Wright High School, graduating in 1948.

After graduation, Betty moved to Chicago and worked at Kraft Foods. She returned to Ironwood a short time later and was employed at Big Powderhorn Mountain as a cashier in the ski shop.

Betty was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood, the Auxiliary to Ironwood American Legion Post 5, and a former member of the Aurora Athletic Club and the Blackjack Repeater Amateur Radio Club. She enjoyed spending time with her family, crafting, scrapbooking and wood crafts, and loved to watch the Green Bay Packers.

She was married to Arne Mattson on Oct. 27, 1952. Arne passed away in 1973.

She then married Jack Olson on July 27, 1974. Jack passed away in 2004.

Surviving are two sons, David Mattson (Terry Olson), Wakefield, and James (Joy Ann) Mattson, Ironwood; a daughter, Kathy (Scott) Peterson, Hurley, Wis .; two grandchildren, Lindsay (Joel) Stafford, Ironwood, and Daniel Peterson (Shelley Baker), New Castle, Okla .; a great-grandchild, Collin Stafford; and a great-grandchild expected in October.

Also surviving are stepsons, James (Helen) Olson, Sheboygan Falls, Wis., and Jerry (Liz) Olson, Hurley; stepdaughters, Jeanine (David) Winkowski, Ironwood, Judy (Greg) Battisti, Frederic, Wis., and Joellyn (Michael) Williams, Ironwood and Birdsboro, Pa .; stepgrandchildren, Michael (Carie) Olson, Tina (Kyle) Ellefson, Jesse (Trista) Olson, Jeffrey Blu Hill (Gwen Garrison), Dawn (K.C.) Giwa, Sunni Hill, Cara Battisti, Mario (Tiffany) Battisti, Justin Williams and Brian Williams (fiancee Rebecca Rothman); stepgreat-grandchildren, Tyler, Nathan, Jacobb, Christian, Carter, Dele and Aubrey; a brother, Bernard (Loretta) Walquist, Ironwood; brother-in-law, Donald Wick, Ironwood; sister-in-law, Joyce Manzanares, Mercer, Wis .; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.

Besides her parents, Betty was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Wick; sisters-in-law, Mildred Salminen and Edith Mattson; brother-in-law, Joe Manzanares; and nephew, Thomas Wick.

Out of respect for her wishes, cremation has taken place.

A memorial service will be held Monday, July 15, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Kurt Kovanen, pastor, officiating.

Luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Committal and interment will be in Sunset Acres Cemetery, Ironwood Township.

To view Betty’s obituary online, sign her guest book or offer condolences, please visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.

Betty was a kind and loving mom, grandma and nana. We will always love and miss you. The family would like to thank her caregivers at Westgate for her care during her final months.