Shirley Ann Olson, 74, Aberdeen, formerly of Corsica, died Friday, April 15, 2011, at Kansas City Hospice House, Kansas City, Mo.

Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Grace Reformed Church, Corsica, with the Rev. Donald H. Mohr officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church. A second service will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, Aberdeen. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Aberdeen. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

She was born on March 29, 1937, near Loyalton, in Edmunds County, to Albert and Minnie (Kleffman) Kadlec.

She attended rural school in Powell Township and then Ipswich High School, graduating in 1955.

She worked for Edmunds County in Ipswich as clerk in both the treasurer and auditor offices and also served as deputy county auditor.

She attended North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, N.D.

In Aberdeen, she worked for Dakota Farmer, Ken Holum and General Services Administration.

In May 1959, she married Dean Olson. They lived in Ipswich, Aberdeen, Britton and Groton.

They divorced in 1975.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Britton and Groton, where she was in choir, taught Sunday School and was a member of United Presbyterian Women, where she served as both a local and state officer.

In 1970, she received the South Dakota Woman of The Year Award and was a local and state officer in the Jaycettes in Britton and Groton.

In 1968, she began working for the U.S. Postal Service in Groton and worked in the Aberdeen Distribution Center before being appointed postmaster in Corsica in 1977.

She served as a stamp collecting educator and trainer.

She joined the National League of Postmasters in 1977 and served in the state organization, then as regional coordinator, national vice president and national chairman of the effective service committee.

In 1983, she was named the S.D. Postmaster of the Year and the 573 Postmaster of the Year Award in 1997.

She retired in 2003 after 37 years of combined federal service. Following her retirement, she became state president of the South Dakota Retirees.

She was a member of Corsica Commercial Club, Priscilla Library Club, PTA and Music Boosters. She was also the chairman of the state centennial celebration in Corsica.

She is survived by a son, Russell, Aberdeen; three daughters: Marcia Olson, Overland Park, Kan.; Anita Olson, Eagan, Minn.; and Donna LeJune and husband Tony, Lee’s Summit, Mo.; two granddaughters, a brother-in-law, Robert Kieckhefer, Brookings; a niece, two nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Janice Kieckhefer; her mother- and father-in-law; and her former husband.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the National League of Postmasters Scholarship Fund, Attn: Early Carey, Sec/Treas., 1607 D Maiden Lane, Wenatchee, Wash., 98801, or a memorial of your choice.