- Date Of Birth: February 10, 1927
- Date Of Death: February 21, 2022
- State: Iowa
Delaine Bell Olson (nee KINDWALL) went to be with the Lord February 21, 2022, in Spirit Lake at the age of 95. “Dee”, as she was known by her friends, was born February 10, 1927, in Alta, Buena Vista County, Iowa at the Alta Hospital. She grew up with her sister Barbara amidst many early (and several related) farming families from Buena Vista County on the family homestead just a few miles west and a little north of Alta. The Kindwall family farm, now a Century Farm, has been in the family since 1880. She was the daughter of Elmer Chester Kindwall and Clara Minnie BELL and was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert Vernon “Bob” OLSON, several brother and sisters-in-law, and her sister Barbara Ruth Sunner Hull Delaine graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls (now the University of Northern Iowa) in 1948 and worked as a Home Economics teacher for over half her professional career in a variety of school districts, including Orange City, Milford, Sulfur Springs, Peterson, and Terrill. But Milford was that special place where she met the love of her life, Bob, in front of the Milford Theater. Later, she transitioned to a role as Adult Education Specialist, working in both Estherville and the Iowa Great Lakes area with Iowa Lakes Community College. She particularly loved working with the Elder Hostel group for many years. She retired from it all in the early 1990’s after almost 40 years of public service in Iowa. But formal education wasn’t her only trade. She and husband Bob ran the day-to-day operation of the Cottonwood Cottages Resort on the southeast shore of Big Spirit Lake from 1960 into the mid 1980’s. Running the cottages was a full family adventure and a guaranteed recipe for learning all about work for her three daughters, the informal education of life itself, and Delaine and Bob were both teachers here too. There were always sheets and towels to wash, floors to mop, rooms to clean, lawns to mow, supplies to replenish, visitors to register and emerging family friendships to be fostered.Grandma Dee’s signature brownies (with a cold glass of milk) were a requirement on every visit by the grand-kids. And if one big batch wasn’t enough to satisfy the demand she would just “whip up” another. Inner tubes in the lake were also standard equipment for everyone willing to get into the lake, but only after waiting an hour after lunch. Grandma Dee would also partake with the rest of the family, always trying to keep her hair from getting too wet, particularly since she was NOT a good swimmer herself. And many a family member learned about collecting “beach glass” and “seashells” with Grandma Dee.She was a member of several local groups, many of which she became more active in during retirement. She participated in the Okoboji Women’s Club; AAUW; Questers; Lakes Regional Hospital Auxiliary; United Methodist Women; Retired Teachers Association; Delta Kappa Gamma; Friendship Club; and Ladies of the Old School and occasionally hosted the local “Book Club” but more often she simply attended that event which was put on by other friends within the Lakes region. We always wondered about what books she was really reading. She also participated in the local “MUGS” group (Microcomputer Users Group) to help keep up with her grand-kids as the use of electronic gadgets came into our world. She had her own computer and maintained her own FACEBOOK page long before it was all the rage.Her “Home Economics” background made her an “Early Adopter” in the kitchen, even to the point where she acquired one of the earliest microwave ovens in the area, in spite of her husband Bob’s doubts. But he too was soon offering the family personal instruction on how to use this new device to warm their coffee. Jell-O was certainly known to be her favorite dessert. Red, green, and orange were often the choices, but not usually at the same time. And, most varieties, regardless of color or flavor, needed fruit of one type or another inserted. “Meat and potatoes” were standard supper cuisine. During her lifetime she and Bob made at least 35 trips around the United States including travel to Sweden in 1975 to visit family there with Bob’s father (who was born in Sweden) and later adventured in a 32 ft 5th wheel travel trailer from Iowa to Alaska and back on a trip of a life-time. Included were trips to California, Hawaii, Florida, Texas, and Arizona for portions of the winter and to Colorado and southern Iowa to frequently visit kids and grand-kids. She loved her family with all her heart and always made it a special point to tell everyone how important family was to her. We never doubted her sincerity. She will be greatly missed. She is survived by her daughters Jolene (Shawn) Fechter, Marsha (John) Smeltzer, and Sandra Olson, six grandchildren, Lt. Col. Matthew Fechter (LeAnn), Sara Clark (KeKoa), David Smeltzer, Tim Fechter (Kelsie), Brent Fechter (Kari), Katie O’Day (Kyle), eight great grandchildren, Eric and Liam Fechter, Keilana and Kanae Clark, Kaden and Harper Fechter, Gunnar, and Garrett O’Day and many nieces and nephews and brother-in-law Paul Olson.
