Lucille Affeldt Olson

Lucille Affeldt Olson, 83, rural Benedict, formerly of Garrison, died Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, at her home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 3:30 p.m. in St. Olaf's Lutheran Church, Turtle Lake. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A prayer service will be held today, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison. Visitation will be held today from noon to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Lucille was born Nov. 16, 1925, in Kenmare, N.D., to Gottlieb and Leah (Stohr) Steig. She was raised and educated in the Kenmare, Minot, Drake and Anamoose areas. Following school she moved with her siblings to Washington state, where she was a welder at the Todd shipyards during World War II. After returning to North Dakota, Lucille worked at various jobs in Minot and Garrison.

Lucille met Elmer Affeldt in Max, N.D., and they were married June 6, 1949, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Garrison. They made their home in Garrison from 1949 to 1953. In 1951, their first child, Sandra Lee Olga, was born. The family moved to Turtle Lake, N.D., where they lived from 1953 to 1958, and also where their family was extended with the birth of their son, Rodger, in 1955.

They returned to Garrison in 1958 and built a new home. Later they purchased land south of Garrison and built another new home. While living in Garrison, Lucille worked as the activities director at the Garrison Nursing Home. Elmer died in July 1977 and Lucille continued to live in their home until 1981.

On June 20, 1981, Lucille married Conrad Olson of rural Benedict at St. Olaf's Lutheran Church near Turtle Lake. They made their home 20 miles east of Garrison, near Benedict. Lucille helped Conrad with the farming operation and also took care of the household duties.

Lucille was always a spunky lady who liked to be busy. She was a wonderful cook and baker, providing many wedding cakes to couples. She was also a talented seamstress and artist. She was also known to race a motorcycle in her younger years or drive truck on the farm. Her family was most important to her and she was very giving when it came to taking care of them.

Lucille is survived by: her husband, Conrad, of Benedict; daughter, Sandra (Kevin) Cotton of Kent, Wash.; son, Rodger (Diane) Affeldt, Garrison; grandchildren, Amanda Lindvig, Scott Affeldt, Marcus Affeldt and Heidi Affeldt; great-grandchildren, William Lindvig, Jayden Diffley and Braelynn Smith; sister, Evelyn Keel; brothers, Edwin Steig, Mickey Steig, Lyle Steig and Daniel Steig; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and caregivers.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elmer Affeldt; brothers, Rueben, Roy, George, "Buddy" (Gottlieb Jr.), David and Gerald Steig; and two sisters, Gladys Cotton and Delores Friend.

To sign the online register, go to (www.garrisonthompson.com).