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.