Barbara Ann (“Bobbie”) Olson died Dec. 16, 2020, at her home in Winthrop. She was born Aug. 23, 1935, in Anchorage, Alaska, to John and Margaret Lund. The Lunds were part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal project, the Matanuska Valley agricultural colony, established in Palmer, Alaska, in 1935 to aid those in the depressed states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin: 203 families were invited to join the colony.
The Lunds arrived in Palmer from Minnesota in the early summer of 1935, where Barbara was one of the first babies born among the colonists. The family moved to Washington when Barbara was a young child, and she attended school in Redmond and, later, Castle Rock. Twice divorced, she raised her three children in the Seattle area before retiring to the Methow Valley three decades ago.
She loved flower arranging and was an avid gardener, proudly earning her Master Gardener designation from Washington State University Extension. Barbara is survived by her longtime companion Art Davis, her son John Olson and his wife, Ruth, of Winthrop, and daughter Julie Bodmer and her husband, Joe, of Snohomish, Washington, as well as nieces Joan and Bonnie, grandchildren John, Cori, Shelby and Kay, and five great-grandchildren. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, brother Jim Lund, and her son Bruce Olson
At Barbara’s request, there will be no services at this time. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite local cause.
