Ruth "Babe" A. Olson

Ruth “Babe” A. Olson, age 89, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Sunday, January 2, 2022, at a local care center.  Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown.  Pastor Scott Dempster will officiate. Music will be provided by Damian and Ashlyn Marchand as soloist. The service will be live-streamed on our website and Facebook page.

Visitation will be at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Tuesday from 5-7 p.m.

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.  Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Active pallbearers will be: Bobby Nichols, Randy West, Aaron West, Lee Marotz, Kevin Stricherz, and Ryan Hall.

Babe was born on January 13, 1932, in Watertown, SD, to James and Mable (Richardson) McGurk.  She attended school in Watertown.

On September 2, 1947, Babe married Robert Olson in Redfield, SD.  They made their home in Watertown, where they raised their family.  Babe worked various part-time jobs, before becoming an inspector at Minnesota Rubber, where she was employed for 27 years.  She retired in 1994.

Babe enjoyed playing cards, bingo, and going to casinos.  She loved attending and watching her grandchildren’s activities. Babe was a very loving mother and grandmother. 

Babe is survived by her 5 daughters: Bonnie Nichols, Barbara (Joe) West, Kim (Mark) Marotz, and Robin Hall, all of Watertown, SD, and Karla (Myron) West, of Hayti, SD; 23 grandchildren; 62 great-grandchildren; and 17 great-great-grandchildren.

Babe was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Olson; her parents; two sons: an infant, and Russell; daughter: Lorrie Stricherz; son-in-law: Robert Nichols; and brother, James McGurk.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel        www.crawfordosthus.com

Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant

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