Rayman, Harriette Norma Olsen

Harriette Norma Olsen Rayman, 89, died Jan. 2, 2010, of pancreatic cancer at the Keystone Senior Suites. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Elberon United Methodist Church in Elberon with Pastor Norman Bennett officiating. Interment will be at National Cemetery near Vining. Friends may call at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday. To honor Harriette's wishes, the casket will remain closed at all times.

Born March 27, 1920, in Boise, Iowa (between Cedar Falls and Waterloo), she and her twin brother, Harry, were the youngest of six children born to Grant and Anna (Hansen) Olsen. Her older siblings were Vernon, Lillian (Thiessen), Blanche (Atchison), and Leslie. She married Robert J. Rayman on Sept. 12, 1940, in Tama.

Harriette graduated in 1938 from Tama High School. She worked at the Bee Hive Department Store in Tama following graduation. After her marriage to Robert they moved to his family's farm in Benton County. In 1946, they purchased their own farm south of Elberon, where they lived and farmed together until their retirement. Harriette was a partner in all their years of farming, and took charge of the family poultry operation for many years. In 1981, they built a home at the edge of Elberon and retired there to enjoy golfing, volunteer and civic activities.

Harriette was a member of the Elberon United Methodist Church, where she served on many committees, was president of United Methodist Women, and served as church financial secretary. She was a member of the committee that researched, compiled and edited the 1981 Elberon Centennial History Book and was a regular volunteer at the Tama County Historical Society. She served on the Elberon Library Board and belonged to The Homemakers Club. She enjoyed quilting, tailoring, upholstering, baking and gardening and traveled with Bob to Spain, the Panama Canal, Alaska, Hawaii and nearly all of the other United States.

She enjoyed spending time with family, researching and keeping family history and was especially known for her rolicky and Danish coffee cake, for the afghans, quilts and crib blankets she made for her grandchildren and for the crocheted baby blankets she made for each of her great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters; three brothers; and two grandsons, Blane and Andy Anderson.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Robert J. Rayman; two sons, John R. (Eileen) Rayman of Tucson, Ariz., and Jack (Barbara) R. Rayman of State College, Pa.; a daughter, Joy (Gene) Anderson of West Burlington, Iowa; six grandchildren, Jennifer Rayman, Jessica (Kevin) Early, Josh (Kelly) Rayman, Jamie Rayman, Megan Rayman and Kiki (Coy) Chanders, and Blaine's wife, Heidi Anderson; 11 great-grandchildren, Caleb, Elijah and Ava Rayman, Nathaniel, Benjamin and Samuel Early, Jasey and Tegan Chanders, and Ruby, Eli and RosaMae Anderson; two sisters-in-law, Ellen (Leslie) Olsen and Rosemary (Richard) Rayman; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A memorial has been established for the Elberon United Methodist Church.

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