Mildred Olsen Newson Del'Andrae Obituary (1911 - 2016)

Our dear Mother, Grandmother, Aunt & Friend passed away surrounded by family Nov 9, 2016. Age 105 and Draper's oldest resident. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, November 18, 2016 at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 W South Jordan Parkway (10600 S), South Jordan, Utah. Viewings will be Thursday, November 17, 2016 from 6-8 pm and one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Interment at Salt Lake City Cemetery. Mildred was born of full English descent on January 28, 1911 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the first of four children born to Oscar and Bertha Jane Bowerbank Olsen. Her brother and two sisters preceded her in death. Due to her mother's illness, Mildred was raised by her aunt. The family lived near the train tracks by West High School in the heart of Salt Lake City. Mildred learned later in life she had grown up in a poverty stricken family. However, she was completely unaware of her family's poverty during her early childhood. Mildred later graduated from West High School. During cold winter nights, her family would burn a fire in their old pot belly stove. Mildred and her siblings would each place a brick near the fire until it was red hot. They would then place their brick at the foot of their bed under the bedding to keep them toasty warm. Mildred's family would all sit together around the radio and listen to popular plays and programs as part of their favorite evening entertainment. As a child, Mildred remembered having fun and doing a lot of hiking in the mountains near Alta, Utah. She and her family would stay up in the mountains when her uncle was working in the mines. During her youth, Mildred remembered taking the street car to town with her beloved Grandma Bowerbank. Mildred would go her own way while her grandmother shopped. When her grandmother came to meet Mildred at Kress' Five-and-Dime store, she was surprised to find Mildred behind the counter working her first job! Her grandmother couldn't believe it! She came to the counter and Mildred waited on her! Mildred had desperately wanted a job and was persistent in seeking one. She admitted, "I was too young, so I actually fibbed a little about my age to obtain my initial employment." Although she couldn't recall her weekly wages, she remembered at the time, she felt lucky to just have a job! Her next job was as a "Time Keeper" and "Statistical Clerk" in the Postal Telegraph Office of Salt Lake City. She recorded all the reports and also performed teletype when needed. She considered herself lucky to have been employed, when most men could not get jobs during the Great Depression! Mildred enjoyed dancing at a variety of venues including "SALTAIR" on the beach of the Great Salt Lake and "The Old Mill" located in what is currently known as Cottonwood Heights, Utah. She confessed, her weakness was pretty high heeled shoes! She started driving in her late teens. No photo, no eye test, no driver's test or license…just hop in and drive! In 1933, legislation was passed requiring a Utah driver's license. Mildred obtained one of the very first, later nicknamed a "Grand Daddy Driver's License" for a fee of 25 cents. She drove a 1930 Model "A" Ford. She drove independently until 2008 when she reached the age of 97. Her family thought she had finally earned a little pampering by the family chauffeurs from then on. Mildred dated Louis Smith Newson for four years before she later married him July 14, 1934. They were very happy together. Lou worked as a dispatcher with Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. They were fortunate and were able to borrow $4, 000 to build their new home in the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake City, before welcoming three children to their family: Nancy Renee in 1938(preceded in death), Linda Lou in 1940 and Roger Louis in 1947. Tragedy struck in 1949 when Lou unexpectedly passed away of cerebral hemorrhaging, leaving Mildred to raise their three young children alone. Mildred was working at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City during WWII, when she was pleasantly surprised by a "Top Brass" special request to work as a personal executive secretary. After Lou's death, she ran her own daycare business within her home. Mildred appreciated being able to support her three young children, without having to leave them to work outside the home. Mildred married Roy Del'Andrae on October 22, 1951 in Elko, Nevada. In 1953 she gave birth to her youngest child, Debra Lynn. She temporarily did some catering and worked at Dunford's Bakery. Later she was employed by the Salt Lake City Health Department in Vital Statistics, where she supervised the recording of all births and deaths within the city limits. She worked there until she was forced to retire, by their requirements at the age of 65. After their children were raised, Roy and Mildred moved to the Holladay area of the Salt Lake Valley. They often would go out to breakfast and flip a coin to decide which direction they would travel that day embarking on one of their many road trips. After twenty-six years of marriage, cancer took Roy from Mildred Christmas Eve of 1977. After Roy's passing, Mildred continued to travel, embarking on numerous tours and cruises with family and many good friends. Mildred considered herself fortunate to have traveled to a great number of exotic and exciting places worldwide. Among many trips, some specifically come to mind, like her first motorcycle ride at age seventy, and her first camel ride in Egypt at age seventy-five! HOBBIES AND ACTIVITIES: Mildred found pleasure in rendering needle-point and ceramics, playing bridge, entertaining family, hosting gala events and setting exquisite dinner tables. FAVORITE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Mildred was grateful and most proud of what she considered her greatest accomplishment…her precious "Five-Generation Family" inclusive of her son, three daughters plus a ginormous creation of beautiful grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren too numerous to count! Mildred's greatest desire was that of her family's happiness. SECRET TO LONGEVITY: Mildred attributed her good health to her sparing use of medications. She was never one to take any medications (not even an aspirin) unless absolutely necessary. BEST ADVICE: "Always reflect anger with kindness and hate with love." Thank you for always being there for us! Always Loved…Never Forgotten! Mildred's family wishes to express sincere gratitude for unprecedented love, devotion and care from: • Beehive Homes of Draper, Stan Ketcher and devoted staff. • Millcreek Home Health and Hospice, Lacey Beckstead and caring staff. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe South Valley 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway South Jordan, UT