Garnet Elizabeth Olson was born at home on January 25th, 1929 to Adele (Prigge) Ties and Oscar Ties in Norton Township, MN. She was the oldest of nine, and helped raise her younger siblings--and milk the cows. At 16 she "flew the coop" to Winona and worked at Ted Meyer Drugstore. A few years later, she moved to Minneapolis where she worked at Ewald Dairy and later attended beauty school while working at The Bridge Café in Dinkytown. 

That's where she met Clifford Olson. They married in 1960, and moved into the Kenwood-Isles home where they would live for the next 50 years. There they raised Elizabeth, Stephan and Christine; their kitchen table was the hub of the neighborhood, where friends and neighbors of every age knew they were always welcome. She cooked a family dinner every night, helped with homework, and supported the kids in all their endeavors. She was a herself was a lifelong learner. The annual family road trip was legendary; she was map reader, campground finder, and cook extraordinaire, including the slow-cook engine block pot roast. Later travels took her to Mexico, Australia, and art and garden tours in England, France and Italy. 

Garnet worked in various roles with the Minneapolis Public Schools for nearly two decades, including many years in special needs classrooms. She served and sang in the choir at Grace Presbyterian Church for decades where she made lasting friendships and memories. Gardening was a source of pleasure in the summer; devouring mysteries and historical fiction was her escape in the winter. In addition, she volunteered in developing local playgrounds, the Neighborhood Improvement Project (NIP) and delivering for Meals on Wheels.

Garnet was known and loved for her kind heart, steady nature, enduring patience, selflessness and most of all, her sassy sense of humor--all the way to the end. She died from complications of dementia; her three children were with her at Parkwood Reflections Memory Care.

Garnet is preceded in death by her husband Clifford Olson, parents Adele and Oscar Ties, and younger siblings Jim Ties, David Ties, LaVern Ties, Charlotte Pasche and Rosalie Ties. She is survived by sisters Eileen Stever, Kathleen Pong, and Susan Bain, her children Elizabeth Olson, Stephan Olson (Nancy), and Christine Gedye (David), and her grandchildren Emma, Rose, Grace, Lily and Cooper, and dozens of nieces and nephews. She is dearly missed. 

 A Virtual Memorial Service will be held on GatheringUs on August 22 at 2:00 Pacific Time, 4:00 Central Time and 5:00 East Coast Time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Metro Meals on Wheels Collaborative either directly or through the donate button on this website.