Alice Grace Albertsen Gillett, 92, of McPherson, Kansas, passed away at 10:10 a.m., Sunday, October 20th, 2019 peacefully, at the Cedars Health Care Center, McPherson, Kansas.
Alice was born on her grandfather’s farm, rural Wausa, Nebraska on November 12, 1926, a daughter of Grace Irene (Wilber) and Franz Hjalmar Olson.
Alice attended several country schools in northeastern Nebraska. She graduated from South Sioux City High School, South Sioux City, Nebraska. She then attended nursing school at the Lutheran School of Nursing, in Sioux City, Iowa and received her RN Degree in 1947.
Alice G. Olson was united in marriage to Willis Hartwig Albertsen on May 30, 1948 in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Willis died on March 7, 1986. Alice G. Albertsen was united in marriage to Fay Forrest Gillett on January 14, 1995 at McPherson, Kansas. Fay died on February 5, 2007.
She was a member of First Baptist Church McPherson, Kansas where she was a member of TABS team and Shalom Sunday School Class.
Alice was a homemaker and through the years she was an RN for a country Dr. in Mapleton, Iowa for 2 years, worked at Mercy Hospital and the V.A. Hospital along with some private duty work in Iowa City, Iowa for 3 1/2 yrs., worked in the VA hospital at Lincoln, Nebraska for 2 years, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Wichita for 9 months before she took time off to raise her children until they all graduated. In 1971 she worked for St. Francis Hospital until her retirement in 1986.
Alice was a member of the Good Sams Camping Club, McPherson Gem and Mineral Club, and the McPherson Hospital Volunteers. Alice enjoyed cross word puzzles, Sudoku, bridge, cribbage, was an avid reader, spending time with her family, and watching Tv especially Jeopardy and KU Basketball.
She is survived by her children, Sheila J. Grewing and husband Bill, of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, Bradley D. Albertsen, of New Castle, Oklahoma, and Sheryl D. Edmonds and husband Scott, of Topeka, Kansas; her siblings, Ruth M. Albertin, of Haysville, Kansas, Rex O. Olson, of Portland, Oregon, Wanda Black, of Portland, Oregon, and Dennis D., Olson and wife Janice, of Navarre, Florida; her nine grandchildren – Shayla Sanders, Laurie Ambrose, Alison Nash and husband Mike, Tony Grewing and wife Shana, Brian Albertsen and wife Andrea, Eli Albertsen and husband Dallas, Jacob Albertsen, Adam Edmonds, and A.J. Edmonds and wife Jessica; her seven great-grandchildren, Cody Ambrose, Clara Grace Sanders, Colton Amborse, Zsuzsana Albertsen, William Albertsen, Alice Edmonds, and Ada Joy Edmonds; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband Willis Albertsen, her second husband Fay F. Gillett; two sons, Brian G. Albertsen and Barry B. Albertsen; brothers, Ole H. and Don Olson; and two sisters, Elna L. Burns and Norda D. Brummond.
Memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church, McPherson, Kansas, at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24th, 2019 with Reverend John Pattison officiating.
Final resting place will be at the El Paso Cemetery Derby, Kansas.
Family request donations to First Baptist Church, McPherson Hospital Volunteers, or Kindred Hospice and they can be sent in care of the Glidden – Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid Street; McPherson, Kansas 67460.