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Virginia “Ginny” Lou Olson

 

Born on January 29, 1933 in Dallas, Wisconsin, Ginny was the daughter of Eugene and Inga (Amundson) Clumpner. For eight years, Ginny lived in Dallas and then moved to Barron, Wisconsin where she lived until college. Some of her fondest memories as a child were swimming in the river and riding her bike.

 

Attending and later graduating from Barron High School, Ginny played the clarinet in the school band and was also a drum majorette. She was very grateful to her principal and music teacher for encouraging her to pursue her dream of a college education. While attending college at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Ginny worked as a waitress at a local county club in the summers, trying to earn enough money to pay for school.  She graduated with a degree in Physical Therapy.

 

While attending college, Ginny met the love of her life, Wayne Olson at a Sunday night dinner. Their eyes met from across the table, he walked her home and knew this was the girl for him. On October 1, 1955 Ginny and Wayne exchanged wedding vows.   She especially treasured the bolt of silk that her brother Loren sent her from Japan, which later became the wedding gown both she and her daughter Chris wore at their weddings.

 

 

Settling down in St. Paul, Ginny started her family and worked at the Wilder Center as a registered physical therapist. The family soon moved to Shoreview, where she welcomed three more children. In 1968, the family built a home on Prior Lake, which they truly called “home.” Ginny worked at the old St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee as a registered physical therapist, eventually becoming department head and even an innovator of their Cardiac Rehabilitation program.

 

An active member of Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Ginny served on the church council, numerous committees, sang in the choir and even recently organized a Peace Filled Women’s group promoting peace around the world. She also belonged to the Collective Collaborative Cuisine small group and was global missions coordinator with here husband Wayne for 18 years.  Among the Missions efforts were supporting an orphanage in Liberia and later, supporting the Global Health Ministries project to Phebe Hospital in Liberia, West Africa, encouraging contributions and collecting medical supplies.

 

Ginny loved to spend time with her dinner club, where they enjoyed eating and playing cribbage. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and the neighborhood Deerfield Ladies Group. She enjoyed gardening, knitting, reading, cross stitching, embroidery, playing Yahtzee and Uno. Ginny greatly treasured the family camping trips to YMCA Camp DuNord near Ely, the last in June 2010, which the extended family will treasure forever. She loved the water, especially sitting on her deck on Prior Lake watching the sunsets.

 

Ginny was generous, giving, selfless, and passionate about social justice and her family. She lived her life like Christ. She was 77 years young when she passed away unexpectedly on July 15, 2010 at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee, MN.

 

She is loved and will be deeply missed by husband of 54 years, Wayne; children, Chris (John) Ricketts of Chicago, Ill, Gregg (Diane) Olson of Atlanta, GA, David (Jody) Bylund-Olson of Jordan, Steve (Lee) Olson of Burnsville; grandchildren, Jenna and Grayson Ricketts, Stephanie and Brandon Olson, Katie and Jacob Olson; and other relatives and friends. Ginny is preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Jeanette Holman, Bud Clumpner and Loren Clumpner.

 

Visitation will be on Monday, July 19 from 4-7 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Homes, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake and also one hour prior to the service at the church. The Celebration of Life Service will be on Tuesday, July 20 at 11:00 AM, at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, 3611 North Behrens Road NW., Prior Lake. Reverend Dr. Marggi Pleiss-Sippola will officiate. Interment will be at Spring Lake Cemetery in Prior Lake, MN. A light lunch and refreshments will follow at the church Upper Great Room.

 

Memorial are preferred in lieu of flowers and will be distributed in Ginny’s memory by the family.