Wanda J Olson, age 95, passed away Wednesday, 2/11/26 after a brief illness. She died at the Cumberland Care and Rehab facility. She was born 12/31/30 in Pierce County, WI, near the village of Rock Elm, to parents Irvin and Evelyn Ingli. She was the oldest of 5 girls born to the Ingli family. When she was a little girl, the very old man who picked her up for Sunday School in a horse-drawn sleigh was a friend of Abraham Lincoln.

When Wanda was in grade school, her father purchased a farm in Pierce County near the Town of El Paso. It was there, while attending the El Paso School, she met her future husband, Harold Olson.

Wanda graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1948. She took a job with an implement dealer in Ellsworth and helped her aunt, Dorothy Oftedahl, take care of her newborn twins while she lived with the Oftedahl family. When Harold got out of the Air Force, they married in 1949 at the old Our Saviors Lutheran Church near El Paso. A year later, they had their first daughter, Jo Ellen.

Harold decided he should go to college using the G. I. Bill. He moved his family to River Falls, where he graduated to become a teacher from what would later be called UW-River Falls. Harold took a job teaching in Rice Lake, WI, moving his family there in 1954. Up until that time, most of Wanda’s 24-year-old life had been lived in Pierce County.

About a year after moving to Rice Lake, the Olson family had their 2nd daughter, Beth. Wanda lived in Rice Lake until 2007, and returned there to live with her daughter and son-in law in 2015. Wanda was an expert budgeter and taught her children at a very young age the difference between needs and wants. She budgeted so well it allowed her to pay her tithes and offerings to the Lord. Wanda was an avid reader and spent many hours reading to her girls. She passed her love of reading to them.

Many nights at the Olson home were spent with the tv off and all 4 people sitting by a lamp reading a book. Later, after her girls had left home, Wanda taught several young children how to read while volunteering at the Abundant Life School between Cameron and Barron, WI. Wanda spent much of her reading time devouring the Word of God. Jesus was the most important person in her life. She often thanked God about the long life she had been granted, yet was still looking forward to the day when she could meet her Savior face to face.

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents and many older relatives and friends, her husband, Harold “Ted”, 2 sisters and 3 brothers-in-law: Shirley and husband Jim Brown, Joan and husband Ralph Ducklow, and recently, brother-in-law, Dean Roe. She was also preceded in death recently by son-in-law, Tim Broetzmann, and great grandchild, Carter Callow.

Wanda is survived by 2 sisters and 1 brother-in-law: Colleen Roe, and Rita (Wayne) Hojem. She is also survived by her 2 daughters, and a son-in-law: Jo Ellen Broetzmann, and Beth (Wesley) Callow, 4 grandchildren Rebekah Peterson, Andrew (Tillie) Callow, Joshua (Livia) Callow, and Daniel (Lisa) Callow; 10 great grandchildren and 1 on the way; and 4 great-great grandchildren and 1 on the way.

Wanda will be buried with her husband, Harold at the Northern WI Veteran’s Cemetery near Spooner, WI. A private family memory time will be held at a future date.

Last Update: Feb 13, 2026 8:02 am CST