Margaret “Peg” (Rasmussen) Olson

Margaret “Peg” (Rasmussen) Olson

March 23, 1948 – November 7, 2018

Rev. Margaret (Rasmussen) Olson died on Nov. 7, 2018 at the Maple Crest Care Center in Omaha.  Margaret was born on March 23, 1948 to Irwin and Renelda Rasmussen of Haverford, PA.  Margaret graduated from Haverford Senior High School.  She graduated from Lebanon Valley College with a bachelor’s degree in music.  She earned her master’s degree in special education at Northern Michigan University.  She taught music and special education and was an accomplished violinist and played the cello.  In 1972 she married Chuck Achterhof; they divorced later.

Margaret received a call from her Lord and Savior and attended Gettysburg Seminary where she received her Master of Divinity.  She was ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on June 6, 1987.  Her first call was to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Elkins, WV.  Her other calls were:  St. Peter, Minnewauken/Calvary, Oberon, ND; Maria, Hershey/Grace, Sutherland, NE; Good Shepherd Lutheran, Philadelphia, PA; and St. Mark’s Lutheran, Pender, NE.  Margaret went on disability in 2009 after being treated for leukemia and receiving a bone marrow transplant.  She retired in 2014.  She served as Co-Interim Pastor at Superior, NE until Dec. 31, 2015.  On May 1, 1988 Margaret married Rev. Donald Olson in Elkins, WV.  Donald passed away in November of 2015.

Margaret’s last 2-1/2 years where difficult as she was diagnosed with dementia, along with having diabetes and an auto immune disease resulting from the anti-rejection drugs she had to take because of the transplant she received.  Margaret had been residing at the Maple Crest Care Center in Omaha, where she received wonderful care and made a lot of friends with the staff until her death.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; infant son, Mark Allen Achterhof; her husband, Rev. Donald Olson; brothers, Warren and Martin; and sister, Karen.  Margaret is survived by her daughter, Shawn Achterhof; one niece and three nephews; cousins; brother-in-law, Rev. Richard Olson; and many friends and former parishioners.

SERVICES: Tuesday, Nov. 13^th at 10am at Bethel Lutheran Church, 1312 S. 45^th St.  Interment, Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Superior, NE.  Memorials are suggested to the Shawn Achterhof Trust.