Mildred Olson

Mildred V. Olson
BANGOR and GLENBURN, ME

Mildred V. Olson passed away peacefully on November 1, 2020 at Stillwater Healthcare in Bangor. She was born in Providence, Rhode Island. She graduated from East Providence High School and nearby Bryant College with a secretarial degree. In her hometown of Rumford, Rhode Island, she worked at Rumford Chemical Works and at The Handy Shop, her father's hardware and general merchandise store.

In 1961, she married Rev. Donald L. Olson. Together they served the Covenant churches in Woodstock and Stamford, Connecticut before moving to Maine to serve the Covenant churches in both Bangor and Glenburn.

Glenburn quickly became their home, and the church was central to their life. As the Pastor's wife at the Glenburn Covenant Church for twenty-six years, Millie prepared the bulletins, played the organ, led the women's group, and helped to oversee the Sunday School as needed. Millie was honored to serve for five years on the National Board of Covenant Women. Summer trips to pastor the small church on Monhegan Island for two to four weeks brought much joy to Millie and Don for many years. After retiring from the church in Glenburn, they served as substitute pastor and wife to many small churches in Maine through Inter-Church Ministries, and attended the Kenduskeag Union Church. Through their ministry Millie and Don were a blessing to many people.

Millie enjoyed work as Glenburn Deputy Town Clerk for five years, followed by a long and fulfilling career as an administrative assistant to the television producers at Maine Public Broadcasting Network in Bangor. As a volunteer, Millie became president of the Glenburn PTA, worked to form the community library, and helped to establish Sunny Gables senior housing in Glenburn.

Millie and Don were very happy to live and to raise their four children in the quiet and beauty of Maine. For more than forty years, the family enjoyed camping at West Lake in Hancock County, where Millie served as treasurer of the camp owners association for a number of those years.

Millie is predeceased by her parents, A. Gilbert and Eva (Jentzel) Helgerson; her brother, A. Gilbert Helgerson Jr., and her husband, Rev. Donald L. Olson. She is survived by her four children, Daniel Olson and his wife Megan of New Sweden ME; Sarah Ramgren and her husband Jon of Waterville ME; Rebecca Dowling and her husband Jack of Newburgh ME; and Andrew Olson and his wife Karen of Martinez CA; five grandchildren, Anson Olson of Seattle WA, Arthur Olson and August Olson of Martinez CA; Anna Ramgren of Southwest Harbor ME, and David Ramgren of Waterville ME; her brother, Nathan Helgerson and his wife Teresa of Seekonk, MA; her sister-in-law Laila Helgerson of Sutton MA; many nieces and nephews; and a dear family friend, Wendy Schriver of Glenburn ME. The family would like to thank the staff at Stillwater Health Care for the attentive care Millie received during the past four years.

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the family will hold a private graveside service at the New Sweden Cemetery in New Sweden ME.

Those wishing to remember Millie in a special way may donate in her memory to the Evangelical Covenant Church (denomination). Checks with the notation 'Mildred Olson - Mission & Ministry Fund' can be mailed to: Office of Advancement, Evangelical Covenant Church, 8303 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. Online gifts may designate 'Mildred Olson' at this web address: https://www.covchurchgiving.com/p-98-the-covenant-mission-and-ministry-fund.aspx. Cards of condolence to the family may be sent to: Rebecca (Olson) Dowling PO Box 76 Hampden, ME 04444.