Mathilda Olsen…83 of Tyler (formerly of Lake Benton) passed away Monday, December 7, 2009 at Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Tyler, Minnesota

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, December 11, 2009 at 10:30a.m. at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Lake Benton

Burial in St. Genevieve’s Catholic Cemetery, Lake Benton, MN

Visitation will be held at the Tyler Area Funeral Home in Tyler, MN  on Thursday 4-7 pm  with a 7:00p.m. prayer service and will continue on Friday one hour prior to the service at the church. The Tyler Area Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. 

Mathilda Olsen was born September 24, 1926 on a farm in Moody County, near Dell Rapids, South Dakota to Joe and Rose (Beckmann) Plagge.  She attended country school and completed her education at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Dell Rapids, SD.

Mathilda was united in marriage to Melvin Olsen on May 6, 1952 at St. Mary’s Church in Dell Rapids.  They farmed for eleven years near Lake Benton, and moved into Lake Benton on May 5, 1963.  Melvin passed away September 12, 1964.  Mathilda was a member of St. Genevieve Catholic Church, the Rosary Society and the Mission serving and quilting group.  She cleaned houses for people, baby sat, worked at the Lake Benton café and also at the kitchen at the Lake Benton School.  She entered Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in 2002.She is survived by her son James Olsen and  grandson Jose, both of Worthington; one brother Herman Plagge of Sioux Falls, SD, three sisters:  Jeanette Rolph of Adrian, Lena Wek of Freeman, SD and Mave Van Loh of Sioux Falls.  Preceding her in death are her parents, husband Melvin, daughter-in-law Maria, one brother William Plagge and 1 sister Bernetta Stepanek