Mary Elizabeth Olson was born September 29, 1908 in Milford, Iowa, the daughter of Lillian and Bruno Von Housen. She attended Beaver College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Froebel Teachers College in Chicago, Illinois.
In May of 1930, Mary Elizabeth was united in marriage to Maynard Olson in Milford. She lived in Linn Grove, Iowa before moving to Spirit Lake, Iowa in 1935. Mary worked as a school teacher and homemaker.
Mary Elizabeth was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake as well as the Ladies Circle. She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading and card games.
Mary Elizabeth passed away August 28, 2010 at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake at one hundred and one years of age.
She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Briggs, Sonia Wylie, both of Horseshoe Bay, Texas; grandsons, Greg Murray of Augusta, Georgia and his children, Erin, Chris, Paul, Elise and Emily; Jim Murray of Platte City, Kansas and his child, Laura; Tom's children, Lauren and Juliana; Jeff Wylie of Austin, Texas and Nancy Wylie of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mary Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Maynard Olson and grandson, Tom Murray