A Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper
Lois M. Olson, 93, of Dubuque, and formerly of Marathon, passed away at 10:45 p.m., on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Stonehill Health Center.
To celebrate Lois’s life, there will be a joint celebration for her and her former husband, Dean Olson, held in the afternoon on Saturday, June 8, at Marathon Community Center, 306 W. Attica St. Burial will be in Poland Township Cemetery. Behr Funeral Home in Dubuque and Sliefert Funeral Home in Marathon are assisting the family.
Lois was born Sept. 20, 1930, in Carroll, the daughter of George and Mildred (Goodwin) Beck. Sadly, George passed away when Lois was very young, but her mother remarried and she gained a wonderful stepfather, Christian Hollinger.
After her father passed away the family moved to Sloan, where she graduated from Sloan High School, Class of 1949. Lois went on to earn her associate’s degree from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, and began teaching elementary school children until the late 1950s. In 1957, she married Dean Olson and they had three sons.
They enjoyed the outdoors and Lois even learned to ride her own BMW motorcycle, becoming an official member of the Silver Wheels Club. Sadly the marriage ended, but they remained friends until he passed away earlier this year.
Lois was always a woman on the go. She had many business ventures and hobbies including co-owning and operating Country Clover Farm Store in Marathon from 1979 until the mid 1980s, owning an antique store, restoring furniture and candle making. Lois was also very active in her community and served on the school board and as the Mayor of Marathon for two terms. Eventually Lois would meet her long-time partner, Dorothy Hoffmann, and discover a love for the RV life. Every winter they would load up the RV and head to Apache Junction, Ariz., to enjoy the warm weather and spend time with their friends. Lois lived a very full life and loved her family deeply. She will be greatly missed.
Those left to cherish Lois’s memory include her three sons: Tim (Chris Happ) Olson of Dubuque; Greg (Chris Montgomery) Olson of Columbia, Mo.; and Brad (Karla Finn) Olson of Des Moines; five grandchildren: Emma Olson, Lena Olson, Tess Wilkerson, Curtis (Jennifer) Finn and Brenda (Alan) Hall; three great-grandchildren: Marcus Finn, Bekah Finn and Adilyn Hall; a niece and five nephews.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents and stepfather; her life partner, Dorothy Hoffmann; three sisters: Shirley (George) Davis, Barb (Richard) Leth and Christine (Al) Soukup; nephew Rick Leth; and her former husband, Dean Olson.
Lois’s family would like to thank her friends at The Rose for the past nine years, and the nurses and staff of Stonehill and Hospice of Dubuque, for the support and kindness they have given to Lois.
The family will thankfully receive your support through greeting cards and memorials in Lois’s memory which may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., Dubuque, IA 52001, Attn. Lois Olson Family.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com
