Obituary of Olga Bakken

March 25, 1915 - July 23, 2008

Olga Bakken passed away peacefully at Joseph Creek Care Village in Cranbrook July 23, 2008. Olga was born March 25, 1915 in Jaffray and lived most of her life there before moving to Cranbrook several years after retiring. Following her marriage to Harold, they operated the Jaffray General Store for a time before taking over the Rosen Lake Resort. After Harold's death and selling the resort, Olga went to the University of Victoria where she earned her Teacher's Certificate, then taught in Waldo for a year and Jaffray for many more years before retiring. She loved to travel and saw much of the world including Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean and numerous other places. She took some of the trips on her own and others with Ed after they married in 1982. Her other loves, as so many know, were of music and art. If there was a piano in sight, in no time at all, Olga would be at the keyboard. For years she was the pianist for the always enjoyable Jaffray Christmas concerts and co-founded the well known Sand Creek Glee Club with fellow teacher Clark Blysak. After retiring she resumed her painting skills, developed as a young lady at the Cornish Finishing School in Seattle. Many of her family and friends have her paintings hanging on their walls. There were some difficult times for her but Olga always rose above them to enjoy life to its fullest.

Olga is survived by her son Bruce (Aggie) and daughter Heather, grandson Christopher and granddaughters Tasha and Hayley, great granddaughter Chloe and step-daughter Christine. She is also survived by nieces Elaine Bjorn, Gay (John) Soutter, and nephew Jon (Ruth) Rutledge and their families and many extended family relatives here and in Sweden.

Olga was predeceased by her first husband Harold in 1958 and her second husband Edwin Bakken in 2005, her parents Christine and Andrew Rosen, infant brother Carl, sister Pauline, niece Ann, nephew Gary and great nephew Adam and many other relatives whom she loved.

A funeral service for Olga will take place on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at Cranbrook United Church at 3:00 pm. Memorial donations in honour of Olga can be made to the Jaffray United Church Fund for Building Improvements: c/o Wendy Van De Weyer Box 100 Jaffray, BC V0B 1T0 or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Service.Condolences for the family can be offered at:www.mcphersonfh.com