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Vera Angeline Olsen died at her home in Anacortes on July 20, 2015 at the age of 102. She was born February 12, 1913 in Mangum, Oklahoma to Riley and Minnie Kennedy. She spent her first five years in Oklahoma and then followed her family to Texas, where she attended school in Petraline, Texas and then moved to Wichita Falls. Vera’s father was a funeral director and the family moved frequently serving at different funeral homes in the area.

Vera met her husband Hans Olsen, a Whidbey Island native, in 1939 and on December 14, 1940, they were married. Hans was in the Navy and he and Vera continued to move on a regular basis. They spent time in Torrence, CA and when Han’s tour of duty was completed, decided to return to his roots in Oak Harbor. The Olsen family had a large amount of land in the Mariner’s Cove area and they settled at Strawberry Point on the property known as “School House Hill”.

Hans began a career as a commercial fisherman, operating his boat the “Concord”. Vera and Hans continued their legacy of moving and left Oak Harbor for Napa, California. Several years later, they moved to Anacortes, settling first on a farm and then at Skyline, then another location before settling at Sunrise Estates. For a time Vera worked at the Cannery in Anacortes.

Vera love to work in her garden, mow her yard, clean and maintain her home and cook. She enjoyed wood find games, the newspaper and the news and was an avid Dominoes player. She loved activities which kept her mind active. Her attitude was to take one day at a time and her favorite saying was “My bags are not packed”.

Vera is survived by one daughter Judy and husband John of Anacortes and Bend, OR., by one granddaughter Kaci Parker of Spokane, by two great grandchildren Shahalie and Brandon Totten of Bend, OR and one great-great grandchild, Haven, also of Bend and a special nephew Corky Canfield. She was preceded in death by her husband Hans in 2001, by one granddaughter Gwen Totten and by her parents and five siblings.

Graveside funeral services for Vera were held at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Oak Harbor on Friday, July 24, 2015 at 2:00pm with Gary Wallin, Life Celebrant officiating. Vera was laid to rest next to her beloved husband Hans. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor, WA. To share memories and condolences, please visit Vera’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com.

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