Lila Olson

Lila Ball Olson at the age of 98 went to meet her Savior and Lord on April 9, 2022.  Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 14th at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Groton.  Pastor Kari Foss will officiate.  Following the service, Lila’s wishes were to have her body donated to the USD Medical Program in order to help others.  Visitation will be held at Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel on Wednesday from 5-7 p.m.

Lila was born on February 17, 1924 at a farmhouse in Day County near Butler, SD to Gladys (Simmons) and Edward Herr.  The family moved to a farm in Beotia Township in Spink County.  She attended a one-room school at Beotia No. 2.  In those days there were many farms in each township and Lila enjoyed playing with neighbor friends that lived close enough that she could walk to their homes.

Even though she grew up in the dirty thirties her parents managed to give her a happy childhood.  The community had high moral standards and expected their children to obey them.  She attended Conde High School and rode with an older neighbor boy until the weather got bad.  Then she stayed in a dormitory while attending school. 

Henry Ball came with his friend on a blind date.  The sparks must have flown as Lila was married shortly after graduating from high school.  They lived with Henry’s parents near Verdon until Janet was born in 1945.  Then they moved to a farm near Verdon where they were full-time farmers.  They raised cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens along with wheat, oats, barley, flax, corn, sorghum, cane, millet, and milk cows for family use.  One of the highlights of the week for them was the trip to Conde to get groceries, socialize and go to the movies.

They were blessed with four children, Janet, Loretta, Roger and Barbara.  Their children attended grade school at Verdon so that meant two trips a day while school was in session.  Muddy roads were a challenge for the times it rained.  Verdon school closed and the Conde school provided bus transportation so they all graduated from Conde High School.

Lila attended PTA meetings and sporting events with them.  She also had interesting experiences being a band mother.  Lila served as a 4-H leader for several years and learned right along with the girls in many activities especially in sewing, making most of her children’s clothing.  Lila also taught Sunday school while her children were attending.  She was a member of ELCA and church circles.

Following the death of Henry in 1980, Lila married Maurice Olson in 1983 and moved into a home in Groton with Maurice.  They enjoyed entertaining friends and family, traveling, and going to casinos. 

Lila was widowed again at the passing of Maurice in 2002.  She continued to live in Groton until May 1, 2017 when she moved to Bethesda Towne Square.  Lila developed many friendships at her new residence.  Lila also continued to travel and make new memories with her daughter Janet. 

Lila’s health declined in early 2022 and on March 14, 2022 it was necessary for her to move to Bethesda Nursing Home.

Preceding Lila in death were her parents, her siblings Ivan Herr, Elmer Herr, Beverly McComsey, Darlene Madsen; her husbands, Henry Ball and Maurice Olson; daughter Loretta Avery; son Roger Ball; sons-in-law Howard Dirksen, Earl Steinhoff, and Jerry Lehman; stepsons Roy Olson and Phillip Olson.

Left behind to celebrate her life are Janet Lehman, Barbara (Jerry) Hoefler, Ranae Ball (daughter-in-law), Merry Jo Ball (sister-in-law), Eileen Brandt (stepdaughter), Ginny Olson (stepdaughter-in-law), Debra McKiver (stepdaughter-in-law) and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-children.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the charity of your choice.

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