Irene Alice Olson, 93, passed away Monday, May 26, 2008, at her residence in Kalispell. She was born Jan. 30, 1915, with a twin brother, Issac, in Ray, N.D., to Alfred and Charlotte M. (Smith) Hartsoch, and was the sixth of 11 children.

Irene's mother died when she was 7. Her father remarried and added six stepsisters and brothers, bringing their total to 17 children. She attended and graduated from Hartsoch School in Ray.

She worked on the family farm south of Ray, until she married Elmer A. Olson on June 21, 1932, in Williston, N.D., at the age of 17. She continued as a farm wife, raising her four children while her husband farmed and taught school.

In 1954, they moved to Montana, where Irene worked as a nurse's aide in various towns. She graduated from beauty school in Glasgow, and owned and operated her own beauty shop in St. Ignatius called Rene's.

Irene's greatest interest was her family. She loved people and everyone was her friend. Her hobbies included crochet, knitting, doing crafts and traveling.

Irene was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her stepmother; seven brothers; three sisters; and her son, Elmer A. Olson Jr.

She is survived by her son, Gerald M. Olson, and wife, Jowana, of Clarkston, Wash.; two daughters, Carole M. O'Donnell and husband, Herb, of Baker, and Virginia P. Perzinski and husband, Robert, of Kalispell; a daughter-in-law, Muriel Olson, of Spokane; five sisters; one brother; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Irene will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 30, in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral chapel. Burial will be after services at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 6 p.m. today, May 29, and Friday, May 30, prior to the time of service at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Irene's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Irene's guest book.