Doris Amelia Olsen

Dorie Olsen passed away on March 21, 2016, at the start of the spring season, a time of new life and renewal. She is now pain-free and made whole once again. Born Doris Amelia to Robert Frederick and Emma Margretha Witt Timm on February 27, 1925 in Evanston, IL, Dorie grew up in Highland Park and attended Lincoln School, ultimately graduating from Highland Park High School. She attended the University of Iowa at Iowa City as a Liberal Arts major where she pledged Alpha Chi Omega sorority and was a dancer with the all-women Scottish Highlanders Pipe & Drums Band. While attending a dorm dance with friends, Dorie met Irving E "Boots". Olsen, an Iowa farm boy and former Army Technical Sgt., studying business on the G.I. Bill. According to a family story, before meeting that fateful night, Boots had seen a photograph of Dorie dancing with the Scottish Highlanders in the local newspaper while he was in hospital recovering from a motorcycle accident and told an attending nurse that he "was going to marry that gal." They did indeed marry during holiday break on December 21, 1946. After both graduated, Dorie and Boots migrated to California to join family members and settle in the village of Vista in 1949. As Boots built his insurance business, Dorie continued her career in education, teaching Kindergarten first in Carlsbad, and then later in Vista at Santa Fe Elementary, finishing her career at Olive Elementary. She greatly enjoyed utilizing her creativity in the classroom, especially with Art and reading. Dorie and Boots started their family with the birth of Nancy Kristine in 1952, followed by Karen Anita in 1954, and then welcomed a latecomer, Kristin Louise in 1961. The family enjoyed many adventures, crisscrossing the country with road trips, dune buggying in the desert, boating and waterskiing at the Colorado River, RV camping, among many others. Dorie was a lifelong learner, taking classes not only to enhance her career, but later for sheer enjoyment. Arts and crafts were a constant in Dorie's life. She dabbled in paper & card making, stamping, miniatures, and other painting mediums, and became an accomplished watercolorist and a rosemauler (Norwegian folk painting). She also excelled in knitting, crocheting, needlework, and sewing. She took great pride in creating clothing and accessories for her young daughters, their dolls and Breyer horses. Traveling and learning about other cultures was another passion of Dorie's. Even into her late seventies, she took to adventure as a crew member on a three-mast sailboat along the eastern seaboard, painting in New Mexico, touring various parts of the States and abroad, including India, the Greek Islands, Scandinavia, Europe, and Central and South America. Dorie embraced the Norwegian culture of her husband, learning some of the language and travelled to Norway to learn how to wear the headpiece and costume of his family's region. She also excelled in the art of making the Norwegian staple of lefse for the local Sons of Norway chapter fundraisers. Being involved in her community was always extremely important to Dorie. Long-time friendships were formed through early involvement with the Vista Women's Club, the Whirlaways Square Dancing Club, and its off-shoot the Sew 'n Sews. During her life, she was also involved with the local chapters of Panhellenic and Alpha Chi Omega sorority alumnae, the Olive Teachers group, the Sons of Norway as well as the Vista Historical Society. Dorie valued education and empowerment for all, volunteering at the Friends of the Library bookstore and the Tri-City Hospital Auxillary gift store, working with Girls, Inc., and being actively involved with P.E.O. since 1952. She had been a member of First Lutheran Church of Vista, and of late, San Marcos Lutheran Church. As part of her faith communities, Dorie enjoyed Bible studies, women's group, vocal and hand bell choirs, ushering, and serving on various committees. Dorie is survived by her: daughters, Nancy Rowles and Kristin Olsen; son-on-law Jeffrey Hanson; grandchildren Jonathon (wife Julia), Amanda, and Matthew (wife Amy) Rowles; Scott (wife Kiran), Christopher, and Kevin (wife Jennifer) Hanson; great-grandchildren Emily, Tyler, and Wesley Rowles (Jonathon), Isabella and Liam Hanson (Christopher), Seth Hanson (Kevin), Sahaj Sekon and Jesse Hanson (Scott); and baby Rowles (Matthew) due in September, as well as other family members and beloved long-time friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Barbara Nevada Kennedy, her brother, Robert F. Timm, Jr., her husband, Irving E. "Boots" Olsen, and most recently, her daughter Karen Anita Hanson. Dorie's zest for life, learning, and community will not be forgotten, nor will her keen observations, lovely sense of humor, zinging wit, and gratitude for the love of family and friends, as well as the little things in life during her later years. She lived to celebrate her 91st birthday on February 27th with long-time friends and family.

Doris Amelia Olsen

February 27, 1925 - March 21, 2016