Margarita Johanna Olson van der Stok

April 11, 1949 – December 22, 2024

Margarita Johanna Olson van der Stok, Carmel, was born on April 11, 1949 in Jakarta, Indonesia (while it was a Dutch colony, prior to Indonesia’s independence). Her family moved back to Holland when she was eight years old. Her father (Frank van der Stok) and mother (Margot Smit) had four boys (Johan, Wouter, Erik Jan, and Frank) and Margarita – who was the fourth of five children, and the only daughter. She adored her family and often told stories of their youth growing up in Holland.

Margarita studied nursing after high school but ultimately redirected her service into a life of religion, faith, and devotion instead. She became a missionary in her early twenties, where she met and married her husband, Christopher Olson, in 1975. Their 50th wedding anniversary will be on February 8, 2025, during which we will celebrate the love and support they cultivated for one another throughout the beautiful life they built together.

Margarita’s adventurous and religious spirit led her to travel, serve, and live in several countries. Along the way, she gave birth to her five children: Maniyer (1981) and Heidi (1982) in Auckland, New Zealand, Christopher (1984) in Santiago, Chile, and Channa (1986) and Jenneke (1990) in Bogota, Colombia. Margarita and her husband completed their missionary life in Cuernavaca, Mexico, in 1993, after which they settled with their family in the San Francisco Bay Area, Calif. As part of settling into this new stage of her life, she founded and managed a successful business, Jacaranda Handcrafts, where she imported jewelry from Mexico to sell to stores throughout California and Oregon. Independent and disciplined, Margarita was proud to be her own boss.

Margarita had two passions in life, her missionary work and, most importantly, her family. She was a dedicated wife, mother of five, and grandmother of eight (Maaike, Isla, Hendrik, Luuk, Nikolaas, Cara, Wesley, and Andy). Margarita was a “no-nonsense” mother who infused tenderness and love into her parenting. She ensured that all her children graduated college and stood on their own two feet in this world – strong, educated, and self-sufficient. Above all else, she imparted her kindness to each member of her family.

Margarita will be remembered by friends and family through her favorite activities: reading, piano playing, singing, cooking, knitting/crocheting, puzzling, hiking, plants, and gardening. And every time her family sits down together for a cup of coffee, the memories will abound of her joy, sense of humor, and appreciation for togetherness.

Family and friends gathered Friday, December 27, 2024, at Bussell Family Funerals, 1621 E. Greyhound Pass, Carmel. On Saturday, December 28, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., the funeral service for Margarita will be held at the Indianapolis Family Church, 6202 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, with visitation one hour prior to the funeral service beginning at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Carmel Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Bussell Family Funerals. Condolences: bussellfamilyfunerals.com.