Bernice C. Olsenius

Bernice C. Olsenius of St. Helens died June 15, 2011, at Meadow Park Care Center in St. Helens. She was 95. Bernice C. Holtman was born May 28, 1916, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Carl Victor and Celia Elizabeth Holtman. Raised in Minneapolis, she graduated from high school as Valedictorian, and then from Lutheran Bible Institute and the Minnesota School of Business. She worked in a bank until her marriage to Rev. Evald Olsenius. They married on May 14, 1938, in a double wedding ceremony with her sister Harriet at the church where she had previously been baptized and confirmed. The couple served many Lutheran churches in Minnesota and Washington. Their last two churches, Faith Lutheran and St. Johns Lutheran, were in Bellingham, Wash. They were vibrant, dedicated and unwavering in the Lord's call to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to all. A woman of faith and service, she was a wonderful and dedicated pastor's wife. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, women's Bible study, confirmation and accompanied her husband on many youth outings and Bible camps. She was truly dad's helpmate. Thanks be to God for our wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be dearly missed. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Don Roppel; daughter, Millie Larson; daughter and son-in-law, Judith and Bruce Little; daughter-in-law, Linda Olsenius; grandchildren and spouses, Rick Karen Roppel, Ron Trista Roppel, Matt Liz Larson, Missy Tim Johnson, Josh Little, Coleen Tunney, Rachel Tristan Burris, Chris Olsenius, Julie Mike Salisbury, and Becky Guzak; and great-grandchildren; Morgan, Riley, Tyler and Brandon Roppel, Corrine and Ethan Roppel, Jeremy and Megan Larson, Gavin, Phaedra and Judah Tunney, Chris Little, Andrew and Ainsley Salisbury, and Jordan Guzak. She was preceded in death by her husband Evald; son, David; sister, Harriet; and great-grandson, Ephraim Little. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at Grace Lutheran Church in Scappoose. Interment will be at Bethany Memorial Cemetery in Warren. Memorial gifts may be made to the Grace Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or to Christian Care, Inc.

Bernice C. Olsenius

May 28, 1916 - June 15, 2011