Frieda C. (Grothe) Olson

Frieda C. (Grothe) Olson, 75, of Britt, Iowa lost her four-year battle with liver disease on November 28, 2010, at Hancock County Memorial Hospital surrounded by her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Funeral services for Frieda Olson will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Britt with Pastor Joel DeBoer officiating.  Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt, Iowa.

Visitation for Frieda Olson will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

The daughter of Joseph Henry and Rose Marie (Hettenbach) Grothe, Frieda was born at home on May 28, 1935 in Creighton, Nebraska.  She graduated from Forest City High School in 1953.  Frieda Grothe married Merrill Lee Olson on January 9, 1954, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.  Frieda and Merrill lived their entire married life in Britt.  Frieda worked at the Highway Café in Britt after graduation and later worked at Winnebago Industries from 1970-1980.  After Frieda retired from Winnebago she started a daycare business in her home that lasted for more than twenty years.  Frieda was an avid sports fan following her children, grandchildren, and her daycare children.  In her spare time Frieda enjoyed bowling, playing bingo, fishing, and going to the casino.  She also enjoyed yearly family vacations every summer.

Frieda is survived by her husband, Merrill Lee Olson of Britt; five children:  Dorothy and her husband Jim Werner of Osage and their three daughters: Christi and her husband Wayne Kiefer of Taopi, MN and their children Dylan, Kylie and Aidan; Lindsey and her husband Isaac Langerud of Nashua and their daughter Teagan; and Brittany and her fiancée Ethan Jeffries of Osage.  Judy and her husband Roger Allen of Britt and their daughter Heather and her husband Luke Noble of Britt and their daughter Chloie.  Gary and his three daughters:  Candi and her husband Casey Patras of Urbandale and their twin daughters Kaylor and Kennadie; Kelli and her fiancée Matthew Welp of Waverly; and Kassi of Iowa City.  Al and his wife Jill of Britt and their three children: Ryan and his wife Tina Fenton of Plainview, MN and their children Baden and Rylee; Luke and his wife Lisa Fenton of Rochester, MN and their son Erik; and Cori Peterson of Ames and her children Keaton and Shelby.  Mary and her husband Rick Willert of Britt and their two children:  Joshua and Katelin both of Britt.  Frieda is also survived by three brothers:  Jim Grothe and his wife Josie of Iowa Falls, Don Grothe and his wife Ila of Lake Mills, and Dick Grothe and his wife Sandy of Leland; two sisters:  Theresa Zila of Lake Mills and Jennie Brouwer of Britt; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She kept a special place in her heart for the many daycare children she cared for over the years and will always treasure the many times spent with the Byers family (Pat, Todd, Jim, Jeff, and Greg).

Frieda was preceded in death by her parents: Joseph and Rose Grothe; two brothers:  Joey and Paul Grothe; and two brothers-in-law; Joe Zila and Jake Brouwer.