Marilyn Olsen, 71, died Nov. 17, 2022 at her home in Clarion following a battle with cancer. Services were held Nov. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the Clarion United Methodist Church. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.
Marilyn Marie was born Sept. 18, 1951 in Fort Dodge to Donald Junior Beenken and Marie Cindy Williams Beenken. She grew up in Clarion and graduated from high school in 1969.
She married Karl M. Olsen on March 7, 1970, and they lived in Clarion where they raised two sons.
While raising her own children, Marilyn ran a daycare in her home. She later attended Iowa Central Community College where she found her real calling as a nurse. Marilyn treated every patient with great compassion and made them feel like they were her number one priority.
Calling Marilyn an avid bargain hunter is a bit of an understatement. Her Black Friday outings were the stuff of legend. While most people might walk out of a store with one or two Crock Pots, Marilyn was known to buy eight or nine. People said if they needed a gift for a wedding or baby shower, there was a good chance Marilyn had one sitting in the trunk of her car.
When Covid-19 restrictions affected our lives, Marilyn had to retire to safely care for Karl. This life change enabled her to combine her compassion for friends and family with her shopping prowess and provide grocery shopping for others while keeping them safe.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Dennis Beenken.
Marilyn is survived by her husband Karl; sons Brent and Lisa Olsen of Waukee, and Chad and Deana Olsen of Conroe, TX; grandchildren Lexi, Lincoln, Landry, Lawson, Ethan, Jase, Christian and Evelyn; and brothers Robert and David Beenken.