Betty J. Olson

June 2, 1930 – November 6, 2018

Betty J. Olson, 88, formerly of Sheridan, passed away peacefully at her home in Downers Grove, Ill., on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Born June 2, 1930 in Sheridan, she was the daughter of the late Newton and Thelma (Barker) Presley.

Betty was a graduate of Sheridan High School and enjoyed a wonderful career as a secretary for both the Argonne National Laboratory and George Williams College. She was a member of the Downers Grove First United Methodist Church, taking great joy in her many years of fellowship and service with the First United Methodist Women.

Anyone who knew Betty knew that she had many things that she was passionate about, however, there were a few that really captured her spirit and personality. First was her love of animals. There was hardly ever a time in her life that Betty didn’t have a recently adopted dog or just a neighborhood stray that she was spoiling rotten. If there is a special place in heaven for those who care for unloved animals, Betty will surely have a reserved seat. There were two other activities that Betty held dear, and those were tending to her flower beds and seeing just how much of Indiana she could physically move back to Illinois. Every trip that Betty would make to Indiana, no matter what the occasion, always had to include a stop (usually multiple stops) to various fields around the area looking for discarded field rocks. She would fill up whatever vehicle she was in, literally, and head back to Illinois with new decorations and borders for her well cared for flower beds. If the D.O.T. knew what she was up to, they would have made her pull into the weigh stations for sure. Last but certainly not least on this list is her family. Betty loved her family, animals and all, more than they will ever know.

Betty is survived by her two loving sons, Gregory Olson and Garry (Phyllis) Olson, both of Downers Grove, Ill.; her sister, Naoma Stiles of Heath, Texas; and by her brother, Robert Presley who lives in the Indianapolis community of New Augusta.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and by her sister, Virginia Hollingsworth.

Private family services are being planned. Betty will be laid to rest at Crown View Cemetery in Sheridan.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Kercheval Funeral Home in Sheridan.

 

Arrangements

Service: Private

Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com