Mildred Louise (Pete) Olsson

Mildred Louise (Pete) Olsson, longtime resident of Ronan, died peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 at St. Luke’s Extended Care in Ronan.

Mildred was born on April 7, 1926, at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula, to Albert and Lucy Balzhiser. Even before she arrived home in Drummond, she had a new name. Her older twin brothers were calling her “Pete,” a name that stuck for 85 years.

As a small child Pete contracted polio. Her mother, Lucy, is given credit for doggedly giving Pete physical therapy to counter the effects of the disease. She grew up with a love of swimming and a natural talent for playing the piano. In high school she worked at the Pix Theater where, in the summer of 1942, she met Don Olsson who was working on his grandparent’s ranch in nearby Hall. Don spent the next several years serving in the Army Air Corp during WWII and Pete went to Montana State College in Bozeman where she studied nursing for two years. She was an enthusiastic member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. During 1945, she worked as a nurse’s aid in Spokane and then attended Washington State University in Pullman. Don, who Pete referred to as “her best friend,” returned home in December 1945, and they were married on April 7, 1946, Pete’s 20th birthday.

Pete and Don settled in Missoula while Don attended law school at the University of Montana. In June of 1947, Don Jr. was born and Pete said, “that’s when my education really began.” Don finished law school in 1950 and they moved to Ronan in time for Debby’s birth in August. Shelley was born in December of 1954.

While Don practiced law by night and worked at the bank by day, Pete took care of the children and got involved in the community. There was a large group of energetic young people in Ronan at the time. Pete joined Jaycees, Women’s Club and Faith Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. Never losing her love of medicine, she served on the St. Luke Hospital Board for nine years, five of those as secretary. She was involved in fund-raising for the St. Luke Nursing Home, the “Mission Valley Miracle,” and served for a time as president of the St. Luke volunteers. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and also served as a Boy Scout den mom, chaperoned the Northern Division Ski Team and was a director of the Ronan State Bank/Community Bank for 30 years.

Pete introduced her family to skiing in the 1950s, beginning a passion that continues today. She also enjoyed Flathead Lake and loved swimming, insisting on Red Cross swimming lessons for her children. She was a gifted musician who could play most anything by ear. Broadway musicals and classical music were her favorites.

Until her late 70s Pete lived a vital life and enjoyed needlework, art, music, friends, family and traveling, especially in the mountains of Switzerland. Every spring and summer you could find Pete in her garden. In addition to an amazing array of beautiful flowers, her specialty was raspberries. There were always jars of delicious raspberry jam and bread and butter pickles in her pantry.

In 2003, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and gradually began to deal with its effects. The Olsson family is very grateful to a number of caregivers who made her journey easier and helped her find peace and joy during those years. We thank Ethel McCready, Toni Mitchell, Carol Jackson, Linda Hardy, Betty Duncan and Jo Frey. As time progressed she moved to St. Luke’s Extended Care and received loving help from the entire staff. Many of them deserve special thanks. We would also like to thank Dr. Vizcarra who always took the time to make her feel truly cared for.

Pete is survived by her husband, Don Olsson Sr. of Ronan, children Don Olsson Jr. (Annette) of Ronan, Debby Olsson McClenahan of Polson, Shelley Olsson Geiszler (Tim) of Missoula, and grandchildren Karli (Ryan) Graves of Albany, Ore., Donnie Olsson (Carly) of Bozeman, Abby (Gordon) Zimmerman of Polson, William (Mac) McClenahan (Rana) of Beirut, Lebanon, Lindsey McClenahan of San Francisco, Sam Geiszler of Missoula and Alex Geiszler of Missoula. She had seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Friday, January 27, 2012, at 3 p.m. at the Mission Mountain Country Club. A reception will follow at the Olsson home. Memorials in Pete’s honor may be made to St. Luke’s Community Health Care Foundation, 107 6th Ave. S.W., Ronan, MT, 59864, or the Mission Valley Aquatic Center, P.O. Box 774, Polson, MT 59860.