Inez Minerva Schwarzkopf

Inez Minerva (Olson) Schwarzkopf of Minneapolis, MN passed away from Lewy Body Dementia on June 24, 2023. Inez was the third of four children born to Rev. Dr. Iver and Myrtle Olson on October 26, 1937 in Fargo, North Dakota. After time spent in Sand Creek, WI the Olson family moved to Minneapolis in 1944. Inez graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1955 and received her BA from Augsburg College in 1959. She married Lyall Schwarzkopf in 1958 and thus began their 64 year adventure together. As a busy mother of four, Inez succeeded in obtaining a MA from the University of Minnesota in 1974. Inez loved words. She solved the New York Times daily crossword with a fountain pen. She was an avid reader and accomplished author including articles, devotionals and short stories for publications ranging from Lutheran Woman Today to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. Much of her professional career was communications work for the Lutheran Church and MN Private Colleges. Over time Inez worked for three iterations of lutheran denominations...LFC, ALC, and ELCA. Her organizational leadership skills were sought after and she served multiple terms on the Augsburg College Board of Regents. Inez's passions were language and travel. She spoke Norwegian fluently, studied Spanish and German and enjoyed learning new vocabulary from a variety of languages. By 2011 she and Lyall had traveled to all seven continents. Often those travels included family and friends. It was one of her greatest joys, exploring the world with loved ones. But even a simple walk by herself around Lake Nokomis listening to a book on tape gave her joy. Inez believed that at least once a year a person should do something they're really afraid to do. She also believed that all of life is an amazing gift of grace from God. Inez was known as "Besta" (short for the Norwegian word for Grandmother "Bestemor") to her 6 grandkids. She had an innate ability to see the individualism of all children, but especially her grandchildren. Besta was always celebrating each child's gifts and fostering their independence in the world. Inez was most fulfilled from her relationships with God, beloved family and friends. She is preceded in death by parents Iver and Myrtle Olson, brother Magne Olson, sister and brother-in-law Jeanette and Peter Locke and sister-in-law Carol Olson. Survived by husband Lyall Schwarzkopf, sons Erik (Leigh Ann) Schwarzkopf and Kurt (Susie Byers) Schwarzkopf, daughters Dana Schwarzkopf and Ilse (Jason) Rolf, grandchildren Ian, Karl (Meghan), Nissa, Casey, Sigrid, and Parker. Brother Merlin Olson, sisters-in-law Judy Olson and Eileen Jellison, many nieces and nephews, and much loved friends Mothers Anonymous and Dorcus Circle. The family would like to thank the care team at Walker Place, Grace Hospice and special caregiver Kaibeh. Funeral Service Friday, July 7, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Ave South, Minneapolis. Live Stream Link: blctcmn.com/stream. Visitation Thursday, July 6th from 4-7pm at the Washburn-McReavy Nokomis Park Chapel and one hour prior to funeral service at the church. Interment Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis. Memorials preferred to the Inez Olson Schwarzkopf Scholarship at Augsburg University or Lake Wapogasset Bible Camp.

Tributes

Inez Minerva Schwarzkopf

October 26, 1937 - June 24, 2023

Tributes

Inez Minerva Schwarzkopf

October 26, 1937 - June 24, 2023

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