Alice Eleanor Olsen, 94, of Overland Park, KS, formerly of North Platte, NE, passed away Friday, February 15, 2013, at the Overland Park Nursing and Rehab in Kansas.
Alice was born July 16, 1918, at Bessemer, MI to Oscar and Anna Johnson Gustafson. She grew up in Bessemer then attended the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.
On November 11, 1937, Alice married Rev. Ivan Edwin Olsen in Chicago, IL. They moved to North Platte where they made their home and raised their children. Alice was the beloved wife of the founding pastor of the Berean Church, and as such, enjoyed sharing the duties and privileges of her pastor-husband. She led women’s ministries, mentored women, and called upon the sick and grieving. She was very much involved in the various ministries of the Berean Church over the years, providing leadership in prayer, evangelism and social action including the Berean Children’s Home and Maranatha Bible Camp, of Maxwell, of which her husband was principal founder.
Since her husband’s death in 1993, Alice continued to represent Christ in many venues and was called upon to speak to groups of married couples, women and seminary students. She was frequently highlighted as a speaker at the Berean National Conventions. But despite the call of the public life, she most enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom cherished her and will miss her greatly.
Alice is survived by her children, Dr. Ivan (Lois Joy) Olsen, of Paw Paw, MI, Joy (Rev. James) Lucht, of Lee’s Summit, MO, Faith (Steve) Eppler, of Olathe, KS and Precious (Dr. Liam) Atchison, of Overland Park, KS; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; her brother, Oliver Gustafson, of Elgin, IL; three sisters, Lorainne (Irving) Booth, of Eagle River, WI, Dorothy Bergeson, of York, NE and Carol Ann Johnson, of Hurley, WI; and other family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Dr. Ivan E. Olsen; her son, Dwight; and her parents, Oscar and Anna Gustafson.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 22, 2013, at the North Platte Berean Church with Rev. James Lucht, Dr. Liam Atchison and Rev. John Stone officiating. Burial will follow in the North Platte Cemetery. Visitation will be 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday with friends and family gathering from 6 to 8 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Maranatha Bible Camp or Generational Compassion (this is an organization which Alice helped start to support the poor elderly in nursing homes who have no visitiors or family). Checks can be sent to Lothlorien, Box 4559, Overland Park, KS 66204. Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.