Deanna Olsen

Deanna Marie (Waite) Olsen, age 85, formerly of Hayti, SD, passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at Avera Prince of Peace Retirement Community in Sioux Falls, SD, surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be at 10:30am at the Hayti Lutheran Church in Hayti on Tuesday January 28, 2025. Family Service will be at 10:00am in the Fireside Room. Rev. Randy Eisenbeisz will officiate.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Monday from 5-7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Burial will be at the Pleasant View Cemetery in rural Hayti.

Deanna was born on February 20, 1939 in Watertown SD to Orris and Margaret (Reese) Waite. She grew up in Watertown, surrounded by family, including grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. Deanna had 44 first cousins. Deanna attended Watertown High School, graduating in 1957. She then went to Augustana College and received her teaching degree. During her high school years, Deanna worked as a car hop, when her parents owned the A&W Drive-Inn in Watertown.

Deanna taught school for 33 years. Her journey as a teacher started in a one-room school house on the east side of Lake Poinsett, now known as the Estelline Township Hall. During this time, she taught grades 1 through 8. She then went on to teach at the Hayti School District in Hayti. Starting in 1972, she began teaching for the newly consolidated Hamlin School District, including teaching in all 4 school buildings located in Hayti, Lake Norden, Bryant, Hazel and lastly at the newly constructed Hamlin Education Center in rural Hayti. A proud accomplishment of hers was that she was able to teach 9 of her 14 grandchildren. Deanna retired from teaching in 2005. Each student that she taught through the years held a special place in her heart. She spoke often about so many of them. In later years, she really enjoyed seeing her past students, now adults, and would recall and share fond memories of them.

Deanna’s passion for teaching didn’t stop at school, but continued after hours, teaching many young people how to play the piano, while at the same time raising their children. Deanna played the piano and organ for decades. She played organ and piano for the church choir, community cantatas, weddings, funerals, and many many other community and church events. Music was an important aspect of her life. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren reminisce of Grandma Dee playing piano and singing with her during family holiday events.

Deanna had a lifelong, deep Christian faith. She was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown. Deanna later became a member of the Hayti Lutheran Church, and was the church organist for 50+ years. She lived a life of giving and service. Giving of her time and talents to others, especially those in need, was a priority for her. Through the years, she was an active member of the church, including ladies circle groups, serving groups, Sunday School and Youth Group activities. She was an avid quilter. She made many quilts for her family, and really enjoyed the ladies quilting group at the church. She also enjoyed embroidery and made many, many kitchen towels for family and other people. These items are treasured by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and friends.

On February 25, 1961, Deanna married Dale Olsen at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown. The couple made their lifelong home in the Hayti area, where they raised their children, David, Dawn, Donalynn and Daniel, in a house full of love. Deanna and Dale were a strong team that focused on faith and family. As the kids grew older, Deanna enjoyed spending time with each of them, along with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. They attended many of their grandchildren’s school activities through the years, and were chosen as the Grand Marshalls for the Homecoming parade in 2003. In later years, Deanna and Dale enjoyed spending 10 winters in Arizona, where they made so many new and wonderful friends. Deanna spoke often about their time and friends in Arizona. After retiring, Deanna and Dale enjoyed traveling, including trips to Alaska, eastern Canada, Boston, the Caribbeans and to Norway where they were able to meet her mother’s relatives that lived there. They especially enjoyed traveling with Deanna’s sister Janet, and Dale’s sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Loren Solberg.  They also enjoyed traveling to the Solberg home in Northern Minnesota where they spent time visiting, fishing and evenings around the bonfire in the firepit.

Deanna was an excellent cook and baker. Her cooking and baking could have earned many prizes through the years and her children and grandchildren now treasure her recipes. Her lefse, krumkake, rhubarb pie, strawberry-rhubarb sauce, and sour cream pie were among the family favorites. Many holidays are filled with the memories of smelling her delicious meals cooking.

Family was the most important to Deanna. She would spend all the time that she could with them, including bringing meals out to the field during busy seasons on the farm and hosting numerous family holiday gatherings. She thoroughly enjoyed attending her children’s and grandchildren’s church and school events, and making meals for groups of pheasant hunters, harvest and corn shelling crews at the farm. Many times, she would invite family over to the house after her children’s events for coffee and dessert. She especially enjoyed cheering on her grandchildren. Deanna was always there for her family and friends when they needed her, and always had a shoulder available for anyone to lean on.

Deanna is survived by her children: David (Lorie) Olsen of Hayti, Dawn (Terry) Brandt of Mina Lake, SD, Donalynn Olsen of Rapid City and Daniel (Sherry Iverson) of Sioux Falls; 14 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren; Sister- and Brother-in-law Joan and Loren Solberg of Grand Rapids, MN; 3 nieces and 5 nephews. Deanna was preceded in death by her husband Dale, her parents Orris and Margaret Waite, parents-in-law Helmer and Rena Olsen, sister Janet Rae (Waite) Bergan, infant sister LaVonne Jeanette Waite, and one brother, Roger Orris Waite.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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