CLARA OLSEN was born October 30, 1906, sixth child of Lawrence and Hannah (Hansen) Andersen on their farm in the Danish community of Basford, in northeast Nebraska. She passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at Logan Valley Manor in Lyons, Nebraska, at the age of 101 years.

Clara was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. She attended school at Dist. No. 39, known as the Bacon School and graduated from the state accredited Blackbird Rural High School. She would always tell that she walked two miles to school every morning. After graduation, she stayed home to help her mother--all the work was done the hard way in those days.

On March 25, 1926, Clara married Henry Thomas Olsen.  They were blessed with three children:  Lawrence, Ann and Elda. In the Spring of 1931, after living on rented farms for a few years, they purchased a farm in the Blackbird community. The following years known as the drought and depression years of the thirties proved to be a challenge to them and those events provided many interesting conversations with their grandchildren. Following the death of Henry on July 3, 1977, Clara moved to Lyons to make her home.

Clara and Henry were charter members of Bethany Lutheran Church in Lyons and she was an active member of the women’s E.L.C.A. Over the years, Clara prepared many baptism napkins for the church and was a member of the church quilting group.

Clara enjoyed cooking, gardening, needle work, crocheting and sewing. She was also interested in family genealogy research.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Henry; son, Lawrence; and son-in-law: Michael Minton.

Survivors include her daughters and son-in-law: Ann and Gary Olson and Elda Minton all of Lyons; daughter-in-law: Darlene Olsen of Lyons; twelve grandchildren; thirty-one great grandchildren; several great-great grandchildren.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Saturday, May 3, 2:30 p.m., at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Lyons, Nebraska.

VISITATION: Friday, May 2nd, 1-8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 5 - 7 p.m at the Pelan Funeral Home in Lyons. Visitation will also be held Saturday at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Lyons Cemetery, Lyons, Nebraska

MEMORIALS: Bethany Lutheran Church, Lyons, Nebraska

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com