Kailey Olson

Kailey Elizabeth Olson was born in Willmar, MN, on Feb. 21, 1993 to the parents of Debra and Butch Olson.Kailey had a passion for the music world, whether it was playing her piano, singing, or listening. She loved the movies and the sounds of opera. Kailey's vast knowledge of the movies was something no one would challenge when it came to titles or actors. She exhibited great attention to detail and an ability to recall any information. Her love for music drew her to choir in both school and the church. In school, Kailey was in jazz, chamber and concert choir. She also loved musicals and enjoyed being in them and spending time with cast, crew and directors. While in choir Kailey participated in ensemble contests and in 2011 she was chosen as best in site with a superior rating. Her love for music also took her to Europe with the Minnesota Ambassadors of Music. Kailey also participated in Tae Kwon Do, earning a Green Belt, medals, trophies and broken boards.Kailey graduated from Yellow Medicine East High School in 2011 with honors. She was a member of the National Honors Society and was the chairperson for the School Choir Committee. Kailey was baptized into the church faith as an infant and her faith grew to the point where she became born again, making her public declaration of her private conviction that Jesus Christ is Lord. She was never afraid to express her belief in salvation and God's undying love for His children. Her faith and conviction in God gave Kailey the strength to forgive all and once she forgave people, she loved them even more. Her faith gave her strength and comfort as she dealt with the passing of her Aunt Mae, Grandma Shirley and friend Kerry.Kailey was always quick with a hug and smile for those that needed comforting. Her faith in God gave her reassurance that she was indeed one of God's children, knowing that she would be with Him someday.Kailey was blessed by God to have one brother, three sisters and two step-sisters: Brandon, Lena, Lindsay, Samantha, Morgan and Taylor and two dogs: Angel & Belle. She loved her siblings and dogs and enjoyed her time with them. She and Brandon could debate with the best of them and Lena and Lindsay would share their love of God and their faith.Kailey and her mom shared a special time watching, listening and talking about movies and music. She was also blessed to have a step-dad, Barry, with whom she enjoyed traveling to Canada to visit his family and see his country, especially those locations where he grew up and served while in the Armed Forces. With her dad Butch, she enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding Grandpa's ATV. She would also visit her grandparents and talk about things she liked and her faith. Kailey also enjoyed her newfound role as Godmother to Danny. On the evening of August 3, 2011, Kailey was called by her Lord to His eternal kingdom following an automobile accident south of Belview, MN. She was 18 years of age.Kailey would want us all to know that we are to celebrate her life and her accomplishments, not worrying about the things she did not get to do. It has been said that ?It takes a community to raise a child?. Nowhere is that more evident than Granite Falls. Granite Falls benefits from Kailey's legacy.Kailey was employed at Jake's Pizza and just started her job at Bagels and Brew. She is survived by her mother Debra and step-dad Barry Marbach of Granite Falls, MN, her father Butch Olson and special friend Deb Colon of Appleton, MN; her brother Brandon (& Jennifer) Mulenburg & niece Joselyn and nephew Dylan of Texas; her sisters Lena (& Agustin) Banuet of Mexico, Lindsay (& Brian) Mukabi of Broken Arrow, OK and Samantha (& Erik) Kirk of Sacred Heart, MN; her step-sisters Morgan and Taylor Marbach of Canada; her great grandma Orpha Werner of Granite Falls, MN; her grandparents Hank & Ginny Olson of Granite Falls, Vern & Ruth Mulenburg of Granite Falls, and Sharon & Tom Inglis of Vancouver, British Columbia; her granddad Ken Marbach of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada; her uncles Rich (& Vicki) Potter of Hawaii, Butch Potter of Buffalo, MN and Lee (& Karla) of Granite Falls, MN; her aunts Connie (& Len) Markgraph of Granite Falls, MN, Bunny Bardwell of Granite Falls, MN, Kim (& Waylan) of St. Paul, MN; many great-aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family.She was preceded in death by her Grandma Shirley; Grandpa Bob and Aunt Mae.