OLIVE DAGMAR HELGASON (SVEISTRUP),

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OLIVE DAGMAR HELGASON (nee SVEISTRUP), after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer, left us peacefully on March 27, 2005 with her family at her side. Olive was born August 20, 1940 in Eriksdale, MB. In 1961 she married Alvin Helgason at the age of 21 years. Olive's first job was as a telephone operator at the Ashern telephone office working with Freda McMillan, Janet Bittner and others. Olive and Alvin were overjoyed when they brought their Darryl home. Olive was a devoted and wonderful mother to Darryl and was very proud of him. She worked for a number of years as a bartender at the Ashern Hotel, where no one caused any trouble because they didn't want the wrath of Olive coming down on them. She also worked for Alex and Dori Malkoske cooking and waiting in the dining room and cleaning the rooms in the hotel. She also worked for Dennis and Lynn Geisler at the Bake Shop. Olive will be sadly missed by her son Darryl (Melody), her granddaughter Jaimie Leigh (the greatest joy of her life); her brother Karl (Jan) and nephews, Jody and Trevor (Barbara) and great-niece Abby; her brother Aussie (Diane), niece Tiffany (Tyler Jensen), Ronnie and Weezie; sister Wendy (Jim) Olafson, nephew Rob (Heather) Sutherland and great-niece Haylea Scott, niece Krissy (Corry) Letzing and great-nephew Haiden and niece Joey and great-nieces, Brandy and Ashlea; sister Jackie (Lee Dickenson), nephews, T.J. and Tyler and other relatives, Elmo and Betty Helgason and family; and her best friends, Marlene Priske, Art Roehl and Marion Cook. Olive was predeceased by her husband Alvin; her parents, Ingvar and Astrid Sveistrup; her nephew Scott Sutherland; and her aunty Mona. Olive was one of those very special people who made friends with each new person she met. She faced many hardships in her life, but greeted them all with a smile. Her attitude was so full of optimism that it could not help but rub off on the people around her. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. in the Grace Lutheran Church in Ashern, with Pastor Nancy Walker officiating. A luncheon will follow at the Ashern Elks Hall. Interment will take place at a later date at the Grace Lutheran Cemetery in Ashern. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Olive's memory to CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9. Arrangements by: ARNASON FUNERAL HOMES LTD. Ashern - Lundar (204) 768-2072

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 30, 2005