Agnes Olson lived life well. Agnes Ann Anderson was born on December 12, 1932, the only child of O.M. “Andy” Anderson and Emma Rosak Anderson. She was born in Spring Valley, Illinois and spent most of her formative years living in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska. Her father was a tobacco and candy salesman and owned O.M. Anderson Supply. Her mother originally was a funeral assistant but became a stay-at-home mother and wife after Aggie was born.
Aggie went to Irving Jr. High, Lincoln High School, and then the University of Nebraska where she majored in education and was a proud member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and an Aksarben princess. Aggie lived at home during college but worked in Sun Valley, Idaho during the summers where her bubbly personality and bright smile was used to promote the new resort. Although she first met her future husband at Irving, it was at UNL that she dated her love, David Olson, the son of a contractor who was in the naval ROTC program. Aggie and David were married on February 4, 1956. Shortly afterward the new couple left the security and comfort of Lincoln, Nebraska for Newport, Rhode Island where ‘Duff’ was commissioned with the Navy’s Sixth Fleet. Ten months later they were blessed with the birth of their first son, Chad. Aggie taught social studies at St. Michael’s School but felt alone in Newport, so she sold everything they owned, packed up baby Chad and followed the fleet at every port of call. She wanted to keep her family together.
After Duff completed his Navy tour in 1959, Aggie and David returned to Lincoln, where Duff began his career at Olson Construction Company. That spring, their second son, Chip, was born. In 1962, Duff had the opportunity to manage a construction project in San Mateo, California, and the young family moved west when Aggie and Duff were twenty-nine. Olson Construction Company grew into a market leader in Northern California, and in 1964 the couple welcomed their daughter, Emily. Aggie became involved in Junior League, school PTA, and her own interior decorating business, Olson Interiors. She had always been creative; while studying to become an elementary school teacher, she also studied art. She had a gift for painting and calligraphy, filling her family’s home with whimsical animal canvases, painted bedroom floors, and straw hats decorated with floral and wine-grape designs. She had vision and flair. Duff loved to say, using a Baskin-Robbins metaphor, “My wife is not vanilla, she is Jamoca Almond Fudge.”
In 1975, Aggie and Duff returned to Lincoln when Duff was offered his father’s role as President of Olson Construction. Aggie was sad to leave her California home, but she was warmly welcomed by longtime friends in Lincoln. During these years, Aggie and Duff shared their time between Lincoln and San Diego. Aggie, a volunteer extraordinaire, served as President of the Ruben H. Fleet Space Museum and PTA President of The Bishop’s School in La Jolla, California. When Duff retired from construction in 1986, the couple moved to Sonoma County, where they built a beautiful home and vineyard growing Chardonnay, Syrah, and Gewürztraminer grapes. Aggie liked calling herself a farmer, hearkening back to her Nebraska roots. Because she was an amazing cook, she and Duff entertained often. Always giving back to her community, Aggie served on local hospital boards, participated in investment clubs, and was active at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
As life began to slow down, Aggie and Duff wanted to move closer to their family in Southern California and embrace their roles as grandparents and great-grandparents, known lovingly as Grams and Gramps. They purchased a home in Ojai, where they became involved with the Ojai Music Festival and Ojai Presbyterian Church. Eventually, they moved into University Village, a retirement community in Thousand Oaks. Aggie lived in 17 different homes over the course of her life, but University Village was the place where she lived the longest. She made fast friends with just about everyone around her, a gift reflected in her annual Christmas card tradition. At one point, she mailed cards to more than 650 friends and family members. After Duff died, she stopped sending them; it just wasn’t the same.
Aggie was fully devoted to Duff. It is said that “habits are caught, not taught,” and all of us who knew and loved Aggie caught the love, devotion, and passion she poured into him. When Duff was struggling with dementia, she never missed a day of joining him for dinner in Skilled Nursing, watching a movie, and saying goodnight. When Covid restrictions prevented visitors from entering the building, Aggie stood in the bushes outside his window for hours at a time. She told him about the world, shared family news, sang the University of Nebraska fight song, recited the Lord’s Prayer, and simply kept him company through the window. Her devotion showed us how important it is to express love and care for our spouses and families. Just before Duff passed on October 26, 2020, Aggie placed his wedding ring on his withered finger, giving both of them the peace to let go. They were married for 64 years, and he died peacefully with Aggie by his side.
Aggie passed peacefully in her sleep on February 11, 2026, with family by her side as well. She was bright and alert in her final days, but leukemia weakened a body that could no longer keep pace with her energetic spirit. She went into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, leaving a legacy of love, faith, joy, and kindness to all who knew her. She lived a good life, a great life.
The Bible says in the book of Matthew, chapter 22 verse 36 when Jesus was asked by a lawyer “what’s the greatest commandment? Jesus replied, “to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Aggie lived this commandment. She loved Jesus with all her heart, soul and strength. All who knew her felt the love she had for each one of us.
We are confident in the hope that was within her that she is now with Duff and her family in Heaven with Jesus, waiting excitedly for us to get there and experience the real, true eternal life that we will enjoy because of our trusting in Jesus Christ.
Until then, we will carry on her legacy.
We love you Mom!
Graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday July 11th at Lincoln Memorial Park (6700 S 14th St, Lincoln, NE 68512).