Mary Lou Olson

Visitation: family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home

Funeral Service: will be held on Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church
Interment: will follow in the Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery

Mary Lou Olson, age 73, of Miles City passed away on Monday, July 16, 2007 at the Holy Rosary Extended Care with her family at her side.

Mary Lou was born in Ismay, Montana on June 26, 1934, the daughter of Samuel Lyle and Annabelle (Johnston) Gookin. She attended school at Whitney Creek Country School through the 8th grade and graduated from Custer County High School in 1952. She then attended Miles City Junior College and graduated from Billings Business College. Following her schooling, she moved to Baker where she worked for Farm Home Administration. She met and married Edgar Kost at Miles City on June 26, 1955 and to this union three children were born: Charles, Kenneth, and Shelah. They lived in Kansas City, Las Vegas and Los Angelos, CA, before returning to Billings. In 1963, they moved to Miles City where Mary Lou worked for the A.S.C.S. office. In 1984, they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota where she was transferred to the state A.S.C.S. office. After her retirement, she started working fulltime at J.C. Penneys in Minnesota. She retired from there and moved back to Miles City to enjoy her retirement years. She met the love of her life, Alfred Olson, through her best friend and they were united in marriage on September 25, 2004 in Miles City, Montana.

Mary Lou was a collector of Angels, tea cups and beanie babies. She loved wearing hats and shopping for them. She loved having picnics and enjoying time with her family and friends. She touched the lives of many people and was blessed with many friends. She enjoyed her last years traveling to visit family and friends. The highlight of her travels included a recent trip to Germany. Mary Lou was an active member of the First Lutheran Church, Miles City C.O.P.S., and volunteered at the Veterans Nursing Home and at the blood bank.

Mary Lou is survived by her husband, Alfred B. Olson of Miles City, MT; two sons Charles Allen Kost of St. Paul, MN; Kenneth Lee (Linda) Kost of Scotts Valley, CA; a daughter, Shelah Kost of Inver Grove Heights, MN; a brother, Marvin (Sharon) Gookin of Baker, MT; a sister, Donna (Irvin) Erlenbusch of Miles City, MT; two step sons: Bill Olson of Chattanooga, TN, and Steven Olson of Port Orchard, WA; two step daughters: Teresa Maldonado of Germany, and Melisa Olson of Columbia Falls, MT; a step mother-in-law, Edna Olson of Canton, SD; three grandchildren: Jessica Ann Kost, Nikolaus Boese, and Jenalee Boese; one great grandchild; seven step grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, and a sister, Anna Marie Smith.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visitingwww.stevensonandsons.com.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Holy Rosary Hospice, 2600 Wilson, Miles City, MT 59301.