Bertha "Bea" Olson

Bertha Olson, age 95, of La Grande, died January 1, 2011 at her home. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in La Grande. A private burial will be held at the Hillcrest Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.

Bertha was born in Walla Walla, Washington on September 24, 1915 to Conrad and Katherine Elizabeth (Schreiner) Miller; the middle child of 11 children. At an early age, her parents moved to a fruit-ranch at Milton-Freewater, close to the State-Line. She spent many summers working at her father's fruit-stand.

On July 3, 1944, she married John Olson in Walla Walla, and they moved to La Grande to make their home. She was nick-named "Bea" when she first movbed to La Grande by a close friend and neighbor. They raised two children, Kay and David. Her husband died on December 15, 1971, after which she went to work at the college in food-service. She worked there until her retirement in 1982. Some of her hobbies were baking, embroidering and raising a garden and flowers. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Kay and David Burt of Albany; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. David and Candy Olson of Gold River, California; brothers, John Miller of Milton-Freewater, George Miller of Richland and Albert Miller of Seattle; two grandchildren, Ryan Burt of Albany and Michael Burt of Portland; step-son, John Turner; two step-grandsons and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by brothers, Al, Carl, Herman, William and Jacob, who was killed in the Philippines in World War II, and sisters, Emma, Arnoldt and Kathryn Bade.

Those who wish may make contributions in her memory to the Zion Lutheran Church Memorial Fund in care of Daniels~Knopp 1502 7th Street in La Grande.

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