Anita M. Olsen

Anita Marlene (Rasmussen) Olsen, age 87, of Yorkville, IL, went home to her Heavenly Father on August 20, 2025. She was born on February 11, 1938, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Loretta (Bobbi) and Ezra (Red) Rasmussen. She was the youngest of three. Anita married Richard Olsen on January 22, 1959, and they had three children: Kelli, Michael, and Stephanie. Anita and Richard made homes in South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma before retiring in Illinois.

Anita was a homemaker and a proof operator at a bank for many years and made good friends everywhere she lived. She was active in the Mrs. Jaycees, was a member of Clowns of America, taught Vacation Bible School, and was involved in community theater. She loved painting ceramic villages and figurines as well as making cards, many of which she personalized and sent to friends and family. She also loved to assemble puzzles and collect stuffed animals.

Anita loved to host her family for holidays and gatherings and the annual “Cousins Camp” for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to make people smile and laugh, and she was often the life of the party with her fun-loving spirit. Anita also cared for many animals over the years, bonding especially with her three-legged puppy Honey.

Of utmost importance to Anita was her faith and relationship with Jesus. One of the joys of her life was sharing with others the transformation she experienced when accepting Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She couldn't wait to go to heaven to be with Him!

Anita is survived by her children Kelli (Dave) O’Byrne, Michael (Marie) Olsen, and Stephanie (Chris) Brockway; grandchildren Nathan, Mandy, Jennifer, Lydia, Corbin, Jo, Matthew, and Jackson; brother Wayne Rasmussen; 11 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Anita was preceded in death by her husband Richard, sister Myrna, granddaughter Maren, daughter-in-law Tamara, and her parents.

There will be a Celebration of Life service on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 3:00 at Fillmore Free Methodist Church, in Fillmore, MN (address 19127 Co Hwy 8, Wykoff). A block of rooms is reserved at the Country Trails Inn & Suites in Preston, MN, for Saturday night.