Roselle K. “Sally” (Olson) Naeseth, age 96, of Decorah, died early Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, 2020, at Wellington Place in Decorah.

Memorial services were held Jan. 16, 2020, at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Rev. Chad Huebner officiating.

Roselle “Sally” Olson was the first-born child of Ralph and Lillian (Daulton) Olson in Spring Valley, Minn., on Aug. 17, 1923. Sally recalled her childhood fondly. She liked school and did well academically. She was active socially and physically, participating with classmates in school clubs and sports like tennis, swimming, roller and ice-skating. Exercise of the body and mind were important to her throughout her life. She went to Luther College after high school and received her B.A. in three years. Since she couldn’t sing a note, she played the flute in the band. She played a mean piccolo and performed a stellar solo in Stars and Stripes. At Luther she met Erling Naeseth ‘47 who eventually went off to WWII. As soon as he had the opportunity, he proposed to her on the steps of the old Preus Gymnasium. They married after the war on July 26, 1946, at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. They started a family and built a house together at 612 Center Street in Decorah, a town they cherished and where they remained for their lifetimes. In addition to her children Carol, David and Kathy, she was a “fill in” mother for several Luther student men who stayed in their basement. Many turned into long-term friends. As well as being a wife and mother she had several diverse jobs including executive secretary to the Luther College president, a math teacher and worked at Anundsen Publishing Company. She was proficient at math and business and if she had been born in later decades, there is no doubt she would have been a businesswoman of some sort, most likely a stockbroker. She was a founding member of a women’s investment club, rather than the women joining the men’s investment club. After attending an Iowa football game, she became an avid Hawkeye fan. She also spent many years as caregiver for her parents and her husband after his stroke. But what she is probably most famous for is her hospitality toward friends, family and Luther alumni from all over the country – whether it was a quick party after work or providing room and board. Later, it was joked about as the Naeseth BnB for anyone at any time that needed a place to stay. And she was undeniably the best cook ever!

Sally was the smallest member of the family with the other family members towering above her, but she was mighty. She was quiet, private and unassuming but had a huge adventurous spirit.  For example, she was bitten by the travel bug at an early age, enjoying trips to the Twin Cities as a young girl. Then on her own she secured a government job for a few months in Alaska during the war before it was even a state. She travelled all over the world and had a special place in her heart for the excursions to Malta that she shared with Erling and their friends the Bergs. She was never ready to come home from a trip and was probably planning her next trip on her way home. Being by the water and anything to do with boats, big or small, were her favorite. If things went wrong on a journey, she’d say it was just part of the adventure. On one trip to Seattle she even rode on a motorcycle for the first time with her nephew Dave at the age of 80!

Sally appreciated nature’s beauty – the changing of autumn leaves, garden flowers growing in the spring and gathering pussy willows and cat tails in the ditches at the side of the road every year. From her apartment on Valley Drive, that she loved so much, she would watch from her window the moon rising. For many years she enjoyed walking along the river in the prairie meadow.

Sally was interested in current events and politics. She particularly relished visits with her sister Dorie from Seattle, getting the west coast city and feminist perspective on things. She missed seeing her sister and having those conversations when neither could no longer travel.

She belonged to several Bridge clubs over the years and played various card games with her daughters right up until she passed. She volunteered at First Lutheran Church where she was a member. She was involved with several activities during Nordic Fest including making dozens and dozens of Kringla for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop to sell. Erling and Sally delivered Meals on Wheels and she was a member of the hospital auxiliary.

Sally died on Jan. 7, 2020, at Wellington Place in Decorah, at age 96 after suffering a stroke on Dec. 31.

Sally is survived by her children Carol Naeseth ‘71 of Sully, Iowa, David Naeseth ’78 of New Albin and Panama City Beach, Fla., and Kathy Naeseth ’80 of Tacoma, Wash.; her 103-year-old sister-in-law, Louise Hubbard ‘39 of New York; her nieces, nephews, and cousins strewn across the country and around the world.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Erling Naeseth ‘47 who died in 2004; her parents and her sister, Doris (Olson) Warbington ‘47; and several brothers and sisters-in-law.

Memorials may be given to the Erling Naeseth Memorial Scholarship Fund at Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101 or First Lutheran Church, 604 West Broadway, Decorah, IA 52101 or any other charity.