Macalene Olson

Macalene M. (Barnhart) Olson, 89, of Atwood, formerly of McDonald, KS, died Jan. 5, 2019. She was born August 15, 1929, in St. Francis, KS to Harvey and Irene Evelyn (Moore) Barnhart.

She attended a rural school near their home and later attended and graduated from St. Francis high school.

She worked as a telephone operator in McCook, NE for a time. She then married Alden “Hank” Olson from Ludell, KS. They were married in St. Francis on August 13, 1950. They made their home in Atwood, KS. They had five sons: David Alden, Randal Ames, Kent Douglas, Richard Lynn, and Gregory Alan.

They moved the family to McDonald, KS in 1959 for Hank’s new teaching job. Macalene was a stay at home mom for many years while the boys were growing up. She was hard working and took very good care of the home. She didn’t have much extra time for other activities. She did dabble in ceramics and enjoyed reading and listening to CD’s, especially country music. She later became interested in bird-watching.

In 1970, she began working at The Peoples State Bank in McDonald. Once the boys were grown, Macalene and Hank enjoyed traveling together.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, John, James, Manota, Jerdine, and Maurice and a great-grandson Lyndon.

Survivors include her husband Alden; sons, Dave (Marty), Randy (Peggy), Kent (Karen), Rick and Greg (Sandee); 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters, Wilma Petsch and Willa Scott and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 11 am, Wed., Jan. 9, 2019, at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Visitation will be the hour prior to funeral service. Burial will follow the service at Fairview Cemetery, Atwood. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of McDonald or the Atwood Good Samaritan, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences, please visit www.baalmannmortuary.com