ROSE ANN HANSEN OLSON
ROSE ANN HANSEN OLSON
Rose Ann Hansen Olson died in Temple, TX, Tuesday, June 24, 2025. She was born March 16, 1923, to John J. Hansen and Lucy Bowen Hansen in Jackson County, WI, on the family farm located about 13 miles from the town of Black River Falls, WI. She was the seventh of eight children -- two boys and six girls,
Rose grew up on her parents’ farm in Jackson County, in a house with no electricity, no indoor plumbing and no telephone. Horses pulled the plow and wagon. During the winter, the family had to brave temperatures of 50 degrees below zero. Heat for their home came from the wood they harvested off their lands, which also provided income when sold in town.
Rose attended first through eighth grade in a one-room school house. When not at school, children were required to do chores around the farm and the house. At age 13, following graduation from eighth grade, Rose left home to attend Black River Falls High School. To fund that cost, Rose worked before and after school as a maid and nanny for the town’s affluent families. Rose had two older sisters attending high school with her, Doris and Jeanette. Another sister, Violet, helped all of them financially when she could. Sometimes, the girls rented a room in town. Other times, room and board became part of their compensation.
Upon graduating from high school, Rose moved in with her sister, Louise, and her husband, James Dunnigan, to help on their farm and with the demands of a growing family. Later, Rose moved to Chicago when her brother, Claire, moved there for job opportunities. She worked in a restaurant in Chicago making sandwiches for the “rich and famous” who frequented the restaurant. In June 1941, the Army drafted Claire, so Rose returned to Black River Falls. She went to work for the local phone company and the A&P grocery store.
With her two brothers in the Army and her older sisters married, Rose’s mother lived alone on the farm with the youngest daughter, Carol Jean. At the request of her uncle, Rose walked the 13 miles to the farm and suggested her mother and little sister move to town and sell the family farm. With the help of her children, her mother was able to purchase a home. Rose moved in with them to help with the mortgage. Both brothers, Claire and Donald, were serving in the Army and had allotments sent to help their mother,
When Japan attacked American forces at Pearl Harbor, the activity at Camp McCoy, WI, increased. Rose’s mother got a job at the camp feeding the soldiers; and Rose volunteered at the camps USO. There she met a young soldier, Leonard Olson, and the two began dating. They married in May 1943. In October 1943, Leonard deployed to the European Theatre with his unit.
With their husbands in Europe, Rose and her new sister-in-law, Violet, took jobs at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant making rocket propellant and smokeless powder to support the war effort. Rose would keep the home fires going for two more wars - the Korean War and Vietnam.
Rose adapted quickly to military life. She volunteered at the post thrift shop in order to help raise money for local charities, she joined the Wives and Widows Club and would serve as secretary, treasurer, vice president and president.
When the Army transferred her husband to Vicenza, Italy, the Army allowed the family to accompany him. She packed up the house and kids and followed her husband. The family spent four years in Italy living on the Italian economy. Rose learned to speak Italian and made friends with the Italian neighbors that would last a lifetime. Fort Sam Houston became her husband’s homebase whenever he was not assigned overseas.
When her children completed school, Rose went back to work. She worked in the retail women’s clothing business until she retired.
Rose moved to Temple, TX, in the summer of 2008 to be closer to her youngest grandchild, Logan Olson. She lived independently at Chappell Hill Apartments until she was 97 when she fell and broke her leg requiring her to use a wheelchair. While living in senior care and memory care in Temple, TX, many dedicated hardworking caregivers provided comfort and care for her. Towards the end of her life, hospice caregivers eased her journey home. We wish to thank all those who assisted in her care.
Rose was proceeded in death by her husband; their parents; her siblings, Louise Dunnigan, Claire Hansen, Jeanette Bernie, Donald Hansen, Doris Eddie, Violet Kellogg and Carol Perry; and siblings’ spouses.
She is survived by her sons, Bruce Olson, Ray Olson and wife Julie Olson (Temple) and Todd Olson; her grandchildren, Danielle Bass and husband Dan Bass (Houston), Erik Olson and wife Laura Rubenstein Olson (San Francisco, CA), Audra Olson Perez and husband Kevin Perez and Logan Olson (Bell County); her great-grandchildren, Justin Perez, Tristan (Rebekah) Perez, Cecila Bass, Caroline Bass, Lauren Bass, Georgia Bass, Azlan Olson, Rose Olson, Claire Olson; and many nieces and nephews and their families, all of whom she cared deeply for and loved.
Graveside services will be performed at a later date.