Solveig Margarette VanOverbeke

Solveig VanOverbeke, age 76, of Marshall, Minnesota, died with family at her side on Friday, July 19, 2024, at the Prairie Home Hospice – Lockwood House in Marshall, Minnesota. Memorial Services are at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Marshall, Minnesota. Following a reception at the church, interment will be in the Johnsonville Cemetery near Lucan, Minnesota. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall. The evening will conclude with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will then continue one hour prior to her celebration, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, at the church.

Solveig Margarette Olson was born on December 15, 1947, in Montevideo, Minnesota, to parents Alvin and Ingaborg (Raffelson) Olson. She moved with her family the following year to a farm in rural Benson, MN. She was baptized On Jan 18th, 1948 and confirmed in her youth at Jevnaker Lutheran Church in rural Montevideo. She attended county school (District 91) before graduating with the Benson High School class of 1965. In 1966 she graduated from Granite Falls Area Technical Institute where she was class valedictorian.

Solveig was united in marriage to Gordon VanOverbeke of Green Valley on June 24, 1967, at Jevnoker Lutheran Church. Gordie and Solveig made their home outside of Marshall for five years before moving to their hobby farm near Lucan where they spent the next 50 years. A year ago the couple moved back to Marshall and enjoyed their time in town and the many friends they made at Hill Street Place.

Following graduation she worked at the MN Employment Service in Willmar. After moving to Marshall she worked at MCoy Adjustment Company for several years before moving to Lucan and working in Lucan and Redwood Falls. She began her career at The Schwan Food Company in 1981 where she spent 29 years before retiring in 2011. While working at the TSFC she made an impact in many areas and gained multiple friendships, she worked nights making corn dogs, worked long hours in her customer service position during the ice cream salmonella outbreak and finished her career with many years in the purchasing group. She was an active member of Johnsonville Trinity Church of Lucan where she served as church secretary for a number of years, taught Sunday School and served on various committees and boards. She was also a member of the Triple T Saddle Club and more recently the Lucan American Legion Auxiliary.

Her enjoyments in life included reading, horseback riding, computer games and spending time with her grandson, Jordan, and her many beloved pets, Prince, Pete, Dixie, Maynard and Toots to name a few. Solveig looked forward to the many family camping trips, often to her favorite location by Two Harbors on Lake Superior. During her life, her creativity came out in all of her crafting hobbies such as ceramics, wood working, making jewelry and quilting. Solveig was an amazing cook, she spent a lot of time in the kitchen making meals from scratch, canning, freezing and making Norwegian favorites such as lefsa. She made sure no one ever left without something from the freezer, a cool whip container (or 3) of leftovers and often a bag of cold sandwiches. 

Solveig VanOverbeke died peacefully while surrounded by her family, and special niece, Darlene VanOverbeke, on Friday, July 19, 2024, in Marshall, Minnesota. She had reached the age of 76 years, 7 months, and 4 days. Blessed be her memory.

Solveig is survived by her 2 children, Mike VanOverbeke of Sioux Falls, SD, Tori VanOverbeke of Marshall; grandson, Jordan VanOverbeke of Marshall; 2 brothers, Kenneth (and Bonnie) Olson of Osakis, Byron (and Vicki) Olson of Benson; sister-in-law, Karen Olson of Rochester; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordie VanOverbeke (just 2 months ago); parents, Alvin and Ingaborg Olson; and 4 bothers, DeLos Olson, Duane Olson, Donald (and Tricia) Olson, and David (and Judy) Olson.