OLSEN Annie

ANNIE MARGARET OLSEN of Lethbridge passed away peacefully at Good Samaritans Society, Park Meadows on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the age of 100 years. She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Torleif Olsen in 1992, as well as her oldest daughter, Lillian Lee, son-in-law Ernest Lee, and grandson, Douglas Lee. She was also predeceased by her brother, Tony Neidermayer and his wife Marie, of Calgary, and a step-sister, Rosa Neidermayer of Germany. She is also the loving mother of Fern Field (Emery) and Lorna Forster (Jock), all of Lethbridge. Annie leaves behind twelve grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren and great-great – grandchildren. Mom was born in Lethbridge on November 17, 1913 and lived her entire life in this city, being very proud to be a \’tough\” Northsider. Her parents immigrated from Tyrol, Germany and Teplitz, Czechoslovakia to Lethbridge over a hundred years ago in search of work in the coalmines. She married Torleif in 1933 and together they lived in the family-built home on the corner of 12th St. and 8th Ave. North for most of their lives. Today, the home is still family-owned by their grandchildren. Annie loved to play the accordion, and created the 12th Street Oldtimers in the 1950\’s, a band who played at many weddings, christenings, seniors\’ homes and parties for several decades. She belonged to both the Eagle\’s Lodge and the Vasa Lodge since the early 1950\’s, being very active in both until her mid-90\’s. She enjoyed baking, as her very first job had been working for a Greek man, in a bakery across the street from today\’s CASA building. Annie also enjoyed gardening, feeding the birds, cooking and baking for the extended family, friends and neighbors, being remembered by many for her special soups, donuts, buns, cookies and Chop Suey. Annie will be very missed and never forgotten by her family and many friends. Friends may meet with the family at CHRISTENSEN SALMON GENERATIONS FUNERAL HOME, 703 – 13 St. N. Lethbridge, on Tuesday, May 6th from 12:00 noon to 12:50 p.m. The Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Major Brian Beveridge of the Salvation Army Church officiating. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations to the Salvation Army Community Church of Lethbridge in gratitude for all of the help received by the family when Annie\’s parents passed away many years ago.