Obituary of Mary Ethel Jackson Rolstad

Mary Ethel Jackson Rolstad September 15, 1928 ~ July 11, 2010 Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Mary Rolstad (81) lost her battle with Alzheimer's on July 11, 2010. She was born September 15, 1928 in Indianapolis, Indiana graduating from Ben Davis High School and Butler College with a Bachelor's degree in mathematics. Mary worked for the U.S. Naval Ordinance Plant in Indianapolis.She met and married her husband, Don, at the Central Christian Church on September 15, 1951. The following year, they moved to Washington where they lived in Olympia, Seattle and Yakima before moving to Olympia again where they remained for forty years. Mary's greatest love was her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. She was a tireless volunteer for anything and everything but perhaps her greatest personal achievement outside her family was fighting the local school districts to keep Olympia Junior Programs alive and available to the school children of Thurston County. She worked closely with OJP holding several offices for over 25 years. Mary was active in Westwood Baptist Church for over 35 years and was an active member of AAUW for over 40 years, holding several offices within the organization. She belonged to a stitchery guild where she again held various offices and a knitting group making caps and sweaters for newborns at St. Peter Hospital. Mary was involved with Campfire Girls of America for over 20 years until it became a co-ed club. If a cause came up, Mary was it's champion! Additional interests included watching college basketball, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, cake decorating and crafts. Mary encouraged all of her children to participate in music, sports, dance and volunteering and she was the chief taxi service going in several different directions at once! Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, by just four days. She is further survived by her sister, Barbara Kendall, her four children, Peter, Sara (Randy) Dotson, David and Betsy Prehm. Her eight grandchildren, Derik, Carissa, Lindsey, Reece, Joseph, Riley, Amanda and Jake, two great grandsons, Eladio and Elies and was expecting her first great grand-daughter in August. In lieu of flowers. the family suggests donations be made to the Olympia Junior Program Scholarship Fund. To leave memories of Mary or condolences for the family, click on the "view guestbook" link below.