Obituary of Marian Elaine Cross

Marian Elaine (Olson) Cross - Born January 27, 1924, was the 5th of 7 children born to Fred & Alma (Mickelson) Olson in Cyrus. Mn. She passed away peacefully in her sleep July 17, 2021 in Minneapolis.

She grew up in Cyrus, although she was born Marion she changed it to Marian at an early age, but among family and friends she was known by the nickname Marrit. She was baptized and confirmed in the Cyrus Lutheran church, proudly receiving a hymnal for perfect Sunday School attendance. She attended Cyrus Elementary and High School, graduating 1942, with a class of 11 students. Marian learned to play the violin and was also in choir. She played solos and was part of several groups, both instrumental and vocal that performed at church and other venues.  Many of her classmates stayed in touch with each other well into their 90’s! She worked for the phone company in Cyrus then moved to Minneapolis after graduation working as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell, a job she kept for 23 years. 

Marian met Grant Harry Cross of Glenwood, when he was on leave from Army Air Corp training before deployment to fight in WWII. They kept in contact while he was overseas and continued to see each other when he came back to Glenwood in November of 1945 at end of the war. On January 13, 1946, Marian and Grant eloped to Watertown S.D. They returned and settled in Glenwood and in 1948, typical of Americas Greatest Generation, they began building the house they lived in for 58 years and raised their family of 5 children. They left Glenwood in 2006 moving to Apple Valley.

She loved gardening and with the help of the family maintained two mammoth Victory gardens and no less than 5 beautiful flower gardens, which are still remembered and envied by many to this day. She was always a loving supportive wife, and a mother, not only to her own children but to all in the neighborhood. She was an exceptional homemaker, a wonderful cook and baker, often using fresh from the garden or home canned ingredients.  She was an excellent seamstress making many of our clothes growing up.

Marian and Grant were avid campers and with the family they camped throughout Minnesota, and all across the US.  In their retirement years they took bus tours to various destinations throughout the United States.

A longtime member of Glenwood Lutheran Church, over the years she served on Wedding Committees, was a Sunday School teacher and worked in the church library. She was also active in the Sons of Norway. For several years she was an AVON LADY! She was a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, Band mother, member of the JC’s and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a member of a very active neighborhood card club for over 50 years.

In her leisure she loved feeding and watching the birds. She was a lifelong Twins fan and was there in person for the 1987 World Series win. She loved singing as well as listening to music of all kinds, and saw Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Glen Miller and many other “Greats” perform during the “Big Band Era” at the renowned Lakeside Pavilion (Ballroom) in Glenwood. She loved to read, do crossword puzzles and to watch murder mysteries, even though they gave her bad dreams! Later in life, when she had spare time, she took up cardmaking and coloring.

Marian will be remembered most for her beautiful smile, her soft and generous heart, as well as her outrageous and crazy sense of humor. Anyone who met her could not help but become a new friend.

Marian is preceded in death by her husband Grant, her parents Fred and Alma Olson, brothers Kenneth and Warren (Wub) and Tilford (Pat), Sisters Helen, Frances (Tootsie) and Florence.

She is survived by her daughter Susan (Gary) Fosland of Savage, MN, Son, Gregg (Glenda) Cross of Apple Valley, daughter Jo Cross of So. St. Paul, son, Dan of Minneapolis, and daughter Jennifer Cross of Minneapolis. Seven grandchildren – Sherry Fosland, Bryon (Mandi) Fosland, Joshua (Christi) Fosland, Heather (Andy) Geiser, Jason Cross, Mackenzie Cross and Greta Cross. Eight great-grandchildren – Ayzha and Lexi Morris, Callia, Addelyn and Paige Fosland, Avery and Henry Geiser, and Tori Deal, and many loving nieces and nephews and cousins.
 

Service scheduled for Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at 2:00 p.m., Visitation at 1:00 p.m., Atonement Lutheran Church, 601 E. 98th St., Bloomington, MN 55420