Obituary of Heidi Olson Clarity

Celebration of Life services for Heidi Olson Clarity, 61, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, daughter of Donna Olson of Spirit Lake, will be 1 pm, Saturday, September 2, 2017, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Interment will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake, with Military Graveside Rites provided by Iowa Honor Guard. Heidi Olson Clarity, age 61, passed away August 29th, 2017 at her home in Minneapolis. She had been ill for about six years with a very rare incurable illness called Progressive Supra -Nuclear Palsy. Heidi handled her lengthy and devastating illness with grace and dignity that impressed all who knew her. Heidi's illness did not define her life…her faith did. Heidi was born on May 26,1956 in Spirit Lake to Dwain and Donna Olson. She attended the Spirit Lake schools and graduated with honors in 1974. She received a four -year full scholarship to pursue her interest in a nursing career. Following two years of study at the University of Nebraska, she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at the University of Maryland and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. in 1978. As a Captain in the U.S. Army, she was stationed at Letterman Army General Hospital in San Francisco, California. After completing her 3 year service in the Army, she specialized as a neonatal intensive care nurse at the University of California San Francisco Hospital. After several years, Heidi moved to Minneapolis and for the past 27 years she was a recovery room nurse at the University of Minnesota Medical Center Children's Hospital. She married Kevin Clarity in 1989 and God blessed their marriage with two children, Christian and Meredith in whom she had enormous pride. Christian graduated from the U.S. Navy SEAL program in San Diego this past July and Meredith is a student at the University of Minnesota. It just felt so good to know Heidi. She was smart and vibrant, 100% reliable, generous and had a wonderful sense of fun. Heidi was incredibly optimistic, a voracious reader, great cook and gardener and she was also loved for her genuine concern for others. Heidi is survived by her husband, Kevin, and children Christian and Meredith, her mother, Donna Olson, brothers Bradley (Laurie) Olson of Minneapolis, Dr. Brett Olson, Spirit Lake, sisters, Melodee (Donn) Fassero, Modesto, California, Kimberlee Norman, Spirit Lake, and Stacy Williams (Mike), Lodi, California, many nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, a large extended family and a host of friends. Heidi's was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake and her confirmation Bible verse was "My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life." Heidi fell asleep in the faith of Jesus and woke up in Heaven.