COLUMBIA, MD (January 31, 2011) – A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, February 12, for Sally Olsson, 97, who died January 23 at her home at Vantage House in Columbia.
The service will begin at 1 p.m. at Kittamaqundi Community, 5410 Leaf Treader Way in Columbia, followed by a reception (across the street) at Vantage House.
Olsson was born in 1914 in Iron Mountain, Michigan, the daughter of Selma and Charles Carlson, Swedish immigrants. She married Karl A. Olsson in 1935 – he died in 1996.
She was a graduate of North Park Junior College (1933) and the University of Minnesota (1935) and served as a teacher in the Chicago Public School system for 20 years. She also worked as a real estate agent in Howard County, Maryland, for 25 years.
“She was a strong helpmate during her husband’s ministerial and academic career and, particularly, in his service as president of North Park College from 1959-1970,” said Alan Olsson of his mother. The family lived in Chicago until moving to Columbia in 1970.
She was known as a cheerful, attentive and loving mother, grandmother and friend, as well as a serious tennis player and bird watcher.
Survivors include sons Alan, Kurt, and Karl, and daughter Sarah McCarthy; 10 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be directed to North Park Covenant Church, 5250 N. Christiana Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60625, or Vantage House Foundation, 5400 Vantage Point Road, Columbia, MD, 21044.
Many memories come to mind as I think of Sally Olsson – My parents Frederic and Sanna Pamp lived across the street on Sawyer Avenue from Karl and Sally – my sister Alice Pamp Jacobson and Sally were classmates at North Park in the 30’s – Having grown up in the Covenant, these Covenant people are like family also – My sympathy to the family – she and Karl will long be remembered.