Marlene Vivian Smith

Marlene Vivian Smith (Olson) passed away peacefully in Brainerd Minnesota on October 10, 2021. Marlene was born to Ralph Olson and Gertrude Euler Olson November 3, 1933 in Ankeny, Iowa. Marlene grew up in the Ankeny-Des Moines area until she and her family moved to Mitchellville in the 1940s. Marlene graduated from Mitchellville High school in 1951. 

Marlene married Roy Smith at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Des Moines Iowa on September 7, 1953. They settled down and enjoyed being newlyweds. That same year Roy took a job with Mobil Oil in Des Moines. They quickly moved with three children to Omaha Nebraska in 1963, Wichita, Kansas in 1968, Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1972 and Detroit, Michigan in 1983. They retired to the Outing, Minnesota area in the fall of 1986 after having lost their middle son and son-in-law in a tragic accident in 1984. 

Marlene was known for her wonderful smile and her hospitality, especially after they moved to the lake, hosting many guests throughout the summer and winter times of their retirement years. She loved her family, the Lord, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, and writing.

She is survived by her sister, Shirley Geyer of Norwalk Iowa, her Sister-in -Laws, Dixie Parsons of Milo, Iowa, Janet Smith of Outing, Minnesota and Ruth Olson of Webster City, Iowa, her son Kirk and his wife Dee, of Outing, Minnesota and her daughter, Jan Peterschick, along with her friend Brad Buchanan of Emily, Minnesota. She is also survived by four grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband, Roy of 59 years, her brother Robert Olson, son, Lance, son-in-law Joel Kaffar, granddaughter Alexa Peterschick, great grandson Caleb Dehn and her son-in-law Kernan Peterschick.

A celebration of life will be held on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 11am at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Outing, Minnesota with visitation one hour before. Memorials in lieu of flowers are requested to either Our Saviors or The Salvation Army of The Brainerd Lakes Area.  Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.