Alberta Rose Steinberg Olson was born on August 6, 1923 in Eldora, Iowa to Albert and Rosa Kohler Steinberg and died on July 12, 2023 in Alliance, NE. She graduated from Ames High School in Ames, Iowa, and then obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Following the completion of her bachelor’s degree, she did graduate work at Iowa State and that is where she met her future husband, Ray. She was taking a biochemistry class and he was the lab instructor. Alberta taught Homemaking at Dallas Center High School in Dallas Center, Iowa. She also taught at Waverly High School in Waverly, Iowa, and at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Additionally, she was employed as a nutritionist for the Iowa Department of Health in Des Moines, Iowa.
In 1943, during World War II, Alberta earned the distinction of being the first and only woman operator employed by WOI radio station in Des Moines. She studied and obtained her Class C license, which enabled her to perform all duties authorized by the Federal Communications Commission. Some of her duties included operating the control equipment for various broadcasts.
She was united in marriage to Raymond H. Olson on August 10, 1952 in Ames. Ray and Alberta resided in Omaha, NE, Spokane, Washington and Sidney, Nebraska before settling in Alliance, NE in 1958. Alberta was a member of Delta Zeta sorority, a charter member and past president of Chapter GC PEO, the United Methodist Church, and was a charter member and past president of the Box Butte General Hospital Auxiliary, serving as manager and buyer for the hospital gift shop for many years. Alberta enjoyed knitting and making flower arrangements .She made many flower arrangements and knitted many dishcloths which were sold at the hospital gift shop. Ray and Alberta enjoyed many trips together, especially spending time at their condo in Dillon, Colorado and attending Dixieland Jazz Festivals there. Ray and Alberta were members of a bridge/dinner club for over 30 years, and Alberta was a member of two women’s bridge clubs.
Alberta’s faith and her family were the most important things to her. Surviving are her 5 children and their spouses: Deborah (Chris) Sass of Agency, MO, Dr. Dan (Helen) Olson of DeKalb, IL, Susan (Tom) Cummings of Alliance, Tim (Penny) Olson of Overland Park, KS and Dr. Jim (Susie) Olson of Kansas City, MO. She is also survived by her 14 grandchildren and spouses: Jennifer (Mac) Fraley, Rachel (Luke) Feaster, Andrew (Sarah) Sass, Michael (Samantha) Olson, Emily (Wes) Parker, Chris (Amber) Cummings, Cory (Sara) Cummings, Kyle (Amanda) Cummings, Tyler (Melissa) Olson, Patrick (Taylor) Olson, Trisha Olson, Nicholas (Mandy) Olson, Nathan Olson and Jessica (Rahul) Batra.
She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren; Silas and Finnegan Sass, Asher Olson, Elsie and Audrey Cummings, Olive and Emerson Cummings, Owen, Callan and Cameron Olson and Maya Batra.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ray, and her brother, Richard K. Richards.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 5th at the United Methodist Church with Pastor Greg Reed officiating. Burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, August 4 from 1-6 p.m. with family being present from 3-5 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church, or a charity of the donor’s choice.