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Olafson, age 94, Valley City, ND, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 13, 2017 at the Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City.
Marion Lorraine Langager was born July 30, 1922 to Sven and Ada (Lambert) Langager at Hope, North Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
She attended school at Hope and graduated on May 24, 1940. Following graduation, she moved to Litchville, ND where she worked for H.M. Mickelson in his Marion, ND and Litchville drug stores. When he sold his drug stores in 1942 and moved to New Rockford, ND, Marion and her sister, Ruth, also moved there to work at the Mickelson Drug Store.
On January 8, 1944, she married Calvin Olafson. They made their home in Litchville until 1955 when the family moved to Valley City. Marion was employed at J. C. Penney in Valley City for 25 years and retired in 1984. She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Valley City, and the church circle. She entered the Sheyenne Care Center in 2004 where she received excellent care and developed a family relationship with the staff allowing her to continue her good-natured attitude. Thanks to everyone who cared for Marion.
Marion loved playing cards and board games with grandchildren. She had an infectious smile, good-natured giggle, and loved to tease and be goofy. Grandchildren knew where to find her snacks in the famous cookie jar in her kitchen. Even with her physical difficulties after a severe stroke, she continued with a positive attitude. Marion participated in the many activities at the Care Center and completed countless word search books over the years. She continued the cookie jar tradition sharing her snacks from bingo winnings tucked in a drawer for visitors. She kept up with current events by reading the newspaper every day as well as the weekly Our Savior’s Church bulletin.
Marion is survived by two sons, Donald (Janice), Valley City, and Gerald (Debora), West Fargo, ND; four grandchildren, Mark (Amanda) Olafson, West Fargo, Kristen Bear (Todd Paintner), Valley City, Kelly Olafson, Fort Collins, CO, and Elizabeth Olafson (Brad Monson), West Fargo; six great grandchildren, Jacy, Trissa, Grady and Drew Olafson, West Fargo and Derek and Ethan Bear, Valley City; one sister, Olive Zerface, Fargo; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Cal who died May 19, 2008; three brothers, James Langager, Richard Langager and Cyril Langager; and five sisters, Ellen Mickelson, Doris McCullough, Ruth Sonsthagen, Esther Ask, and Phyllis Simenson.
Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. The funeral service will be 11 am Tuesday, January 17, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Valley City. Burial will be in Memory Gardens in the spring.
Arrangements are by Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com.