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Edith Marie Olsen, 96, of Newell passed away on Jan. 10, 2026.
Funeral services will take place Saturday, Jan. 17, at 10 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church in Newell. Burial will be in Newell Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 16, from 5-7 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake.
Edith was born on Jan. 4, 1930, in Lake Norden, S.D., to Reverend Albert and Lillie (Larson) Osborne. Edith was the youngest of four children. Throughout her childhood, Edith’s family moved across the Midwest as her father was called to serve different churches. When Edith was 15, her father accepted a call to First Baptist Church in Newell. It was there that she met her classmate and future husband, Marvel Olsen. Edith graduated from Newell High School in 1947 as Valedictorian of her class. She then attended Iowa State University, earning a degree in home economics education. Edith taught at Winterset High School until her marriage to Marvel on March 14, 1954.
Marvel and Edith made their home on the farm near Newell. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Thomas, Rebecca, Julie and Linda. Edith devoted her life to her family, church and community. Alongside her role as a devoted homemaker, she generously shared her talents by sewing for Faith, Hope & Charity.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Tom (Marty) Olsen of Newell; Becky (Jim) Brown of West Olive, Mich.; Julie (Rick) Staley of Charter Oak; Linda (Steve) Culp of Newell; grandchildren: Mark (Valerie) Olsen, Kurt (Beth) Olsen, Peter (Sierra) Olsen, Philip (Stephanie) Brown, Eric (Linsey) Brown, Tyler (Sarah) Brown, Emily (Joe) Skalandis, Alyssa (Phil) Herbold, Ryan (Monica) Staley, Katie (Tate) Rohde, Matthew Staley, Kristen (Kevin) Krausman, Sarah (Mitch) Carstens, Rachel (Ben) Allen, Beth (Phillip) Hammitt; and 39 great-grandchildren.
Edith was preceded in death by her husband Marvel; her parents; siblings; and great-grandson Kaden Krausman.
