1915 – 2016

AUBURN — Ruth Sophronia Olsen, 100, of Montello Heights, Lewiston, died peacefully Tuesday, May 10, at the Hospice House in Auburn.

She was born Aug. 18, 1915, in Levant, the daughter of John A. and Hattie R. Johnston Cheney. She attended Bangor High School, graduating in 1933. Following high school, Ruth went on to Gilman Commercial College. Ruth’s first marriage was in 1946 to Edward F. Hanson. Edward died in 1971. In 1972, she married Charlie Olsen; he died in 1998.

She worked as a secretary for a dairy farm in Veazie, Sampson’s Insurance Agency in Bangor and in 1942 went to Fay-Scott Manufacturing in Dexter. Ruth enjoyed playing bingo, Bible study and Tuesday evening continuing education classes, which were on many different subjects. She grew to like ice cream upon returning to Maine. She also loved her family very much. She was a member of the Lions Club in California.

She is survived by her daughter, Audrey Hanscom, and her husband, Bob, of Greene; her son, Allan Hanson and his wife, Cheryl, of Covington, La.; two stepdaughters, Charlene Jones and her husband, John, of Pioneer, Calif., and LeeAnn Callahan and her husband, Chuck, of San Diego, Calif.; a stepson, Randall Olsen and his wife, Kris, of Escondido, Calif.; eight grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two cousins, Angie Keyser of Bangor and Frank Clish, of Florida; and three nephews, John Cheney and his wife, Brenda, of Brewer, David Cheney and his companion, Linda, of Ellsworth and Ralph Cheney and his wife, Lynn, of Richmond.

Ruth was predeceased by her parents; her husbands, Edward F. Hanson and Charlie Olsen; two brothers, John and Raymond; a sister, Audrey; two children, David and Jane; and a sister-in-law, Dorothy Cheney.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.finleyfuneralhome.com.