Betty J. Olson, 93, of De Soto died Sept. 18, 2020, at The Villas in De Soto. Mrs. Olson worked for the Dearing, Richeson and Weier Law Firm from 1955 until 1958, when she took a job at the De Soto Public Library. She became library director in August 1962 and serve in that capacity until her retirement on Sept. 1, 2014. She was a local authority on genealogy and a member of the Jefferson County Historical Society. A very active member of the De Soto Community Church of God, she held many local positions as well as offices at the state and national level. She was born May 14, 1927, in Middletown, Ohio, the daughter of the late George and Suzanne (Johnson) Egelston. She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years: Blaine Olson.
She is survived by two children: Gary (Crickett) Olson of Hillsboro and Diane (the Rev. Trent) Freed of Bedford, Ind.; a sister: Lois Arnold of Middletown, Ohio; four grandchildren: Andrea (Jim) Siegfried, Russ (Emily) Olson, Justin Freed and Jared Freed; and two great-grandchildren: Patrick Siegfried and Lydia Siegfried
She was preceded in death by three sisters: Pearl Linkous, Mae Maines and Phyllis Schearer.
Visitation is scheduled at 5 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home, 220 N. Main St., in De Soto, officiated by the Rev. Ron Kulp with eulogy by the Rev. Gene Moses. Memorials may be made to the De Soto Public Library, 712 S. Main St., De Soto, 63020; or to the De Soto Community Church of God, 300 W. Mineral St., De Soto, 63020. Arrangements are under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home.