OLSEN, Marilyn

Marilyn Jean Olsen (nee Alder) April 20, 1949 – June 20, 2025 Marilyn Jean Olsen passed away peacefully on June 20, 2025, at the Good Samaritan West Highland Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta, at the age of 76.
Born in Calgary, Marilyn was predeceased by her parents, Ken and Lilly Alder, and by her beloved husband of 47 years, Ross Olsen and father and mother in law, Fred and Dora Olsen, brother in law Keith Olsen and sister in law Lenore Olsen, all of Neilburg SK. She is survived by her children: Neil (Monique) Olsen of Spruce Grove, Kathleen Cornell (mother of Neil’s children Adam, Jennekah, and Jillian); and Nancy (Joel) Sovdi of Calgary and her children Tait, Zachary, Preston, and Georgia. Marilyn is also remembered by her siblings Donna (Doug) Miles, Keith (Karen) Alder, and Kaye (Allan) Giles, in-laws Victor and Sandra Olsen of Lloydminster AB, and Roy and Elaine Olsen of Rocanville SK., along with many nieces, nephews, and friends across Canada.
Marilyn was a devoted farm wife and a long-time school staff member. During the 1980s, she worked at Carmangay Elementary as a teacher’s aide, secretary, and librarian, later continuing at County Central High School in Vulcan until losing her sight in 2002. Her strength, humour, and deep faith carried her through 23 years of blindness and ongoing health struggles with grace and gratitude.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Nobleford Community Complex, 112 Kipp Street. Lunch to follow, provided by Marilyn’s church community.
The family thanks the staff at Good Samaritan West Highland Centre, Chinook Hospital’s Dialysis Unit, and Lethbridge Access-A-Ride. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the U of C Cumming School of Medicine, where Marilyn’s legacy will live on.