Dorene M. Olson, age 64, of Wolf Point, MT, died Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford.

Dorene M. Hegney was born July 10, 1948, to Martin T. and Emma L. (Hoffman) Hegney in Carrington, ND. She grew up in Carrington and graduated from high school in 1966.

On December 31, 1966, she boarded the train in Jamestown, ND, and headed west to attend Walla Walla College in College Place, WA. Over the years, she worked at various jobs and locations including College Place, Pendleton, OR, Morganton, NC, Lincoln, NE, and Shelby, MT. In 1981, she graduated from the University of North Dakota-Williston (now Williston State College) with honors from the Practical Nursing Program. She then worked in Bozeman and Great Falls, MT as an LPN.

In 1991, she moved to Dillon, MT, and attended Western Montana College (WMC) and graduated with an Associate Degree in Tourism. It was while she was at WMC, that she was invited by Bob Saindon of Missouri Valley Development Corporation, to do her tourism internship.

The summer of 1992, she met George Olson in Glasgow. After a year of long-distance courtship, she and George were married in the Glasgow Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church on May 15, 1993, and moved to Wolf Point, MT. The next 17½ years, until George’s death, were the most wonderful years of her life.

She was active in the Glasgow and Wolf Point SDA Church as clerk, Sabbath School superintendent, and primary teacher, besides working with her husband in outreach ministries. Their initials, which spelled ‘GO DO’, became their mission to share the love of God, and be a blessing to others in the community and in their travels. The highlight of each summer for Dorene, was to attend the church camp meetings, where she enjoyed the messages from the Word of God, and the friendships developed over the years.

During her years in Wolf Point, she worked at Big Sky Motel, and for over 10 years at the Ben Franklin store. In 2008, she began to give foot care at the Senior Center and in individual homes, as well as, volunteering at the Faith Lutheran Home. She enjoyed gardening and sharing the produce with her friends and neighbors. She also enjoyed reading and crocheting.

In 2012, her battle with cancer took her on a spiritual journey that proved God’s great love for her. She saw God lead her step by step, and learned to put complete trust and faith and hope in Him. The Lord showed her, through friends and family, that He had not forsaken her. When she needed help and support, God sent angels clothed in humanity to be there for her, to lift her up in prayer, and to give her encouragement. Her most fervent prayer was that she would ever be faithful to her Savior.

Now she sleeps, awaiting her Savior’s return that she might see Him face to face and live eternally with Him (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

She was preceded in death by her father; her brother, Terry; her husband, George; and step-grandson, Randy.

She is survived by her mother, Emma Hegney, New Rockford; a sister, Bernice Ruchotzke, Ashern, Manitoba, Canada; a brother, Darol, Jamestown, ND; a nephew, Jay (Jenna) Ruchotzke and grandnieces, Emileigh and Johanna, Ashern, MB; her step children, step grandchildren, and 1 step great granddaughter.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd or 3 Angels Broadcasting Network, P.O. Box 220, West Frankfort, IL 62896.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd Chapel, New Rockford

DATE AND TIME: Monday, May 20, 2013 at 2:00 PM

INTERMENT: Pleasant Valley Adventist Cemetery, rural Carrington