Olive Mae Anfinson

Olive Mae Anfinson, age 91, of Willmar, formerly of Benson, MN, died Monday, October 3, 2022, at the CentraCare / Willmar Care Center & Therapy Suites in Willmar, MN. Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 8, 2022, followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m., at the Zniewski Funeral Home Chapel in Benson, MN. Interment will be in the Benson City Cemetery. Memorial are preferred to the Swift County-Benson Hospital Foundation. Arrangements are with Zniewski Funeral Home.

Olive Mae (McClellan) Anfinson was born in Alexandria MN at her maternal grandparent’s home to Frank M. and Hattie M. (Werline) McClellan on June 22, 1931. She grew up on a farm in rural Forada, across the road from Lover’s Lake. Her earliest years were spent growing up during the Depression. One of her chores each day, after walking home from school, was to wash the daily supply of chicken eggs which were then brought to the local creamery to be sold. This income allowed the family to purchase groceries each week.  Olive graduated in the class of 1949 from Villard High School. They proudly called themselves the ‘49er’s! She attended St. Cloud Teachers College and began her teaching career in Osakis. Soon after she moved to Benson where she taught 4 ^th grade at both Northside and Southside Elementary schools until her retirement in 1996.

Olive met her future husband at a Benson Chamber of Commerce Banquet hosted by Rangaard’s Café. After an appropriate period of courtship Olive and Donald C. Anfinson were married on June 21, 1959. This union was blessed with 32 years of marriage and the happy occasion of the birth of their son, David.

After Don’s passing in 1991, Olive enjoyed many wonderful trips with Rustad Tours visiting a broad spectrum of the country, from New York, Washington, D.C. and the Florida Keys, to the Rocky Mountains, Vancouver, B.C. down to southern California. Olive was a devoted wife, mother and teacher, who had a deep and abiding faith. She loved her family, especially her two grandchildren with whom she developed special relationships based on the unique personalities they each possess.

Olive was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; parents Frank and Hattie McClellan; brother-in-law Orie Mills, nephew-in-law James Mills and niece-in-law Sherri Middleton; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

She is survived by her son, David (Susan) Anfinson of Willmar; her grandchildren Daniel and Rebecca, both of Minneapolis; cousins Donna Lucky of Tacoma, WA, Mina Johnson of St. Louis Park, MN, and Rolla (Alice) Werline of Baton Rouge, LA; sister-in-law Marilyn Mills, nephews-in-law Gary, Dale and Scott Mills and niece-in-law Gwenn Smeby. Blessed be her memory.