Obituary for Olaud Christina Lelevier
OLAUD CHRISTINA LELEVIER
Olaud Nilsen was born in Haugesund, Norway on August 9, 1933 to Esther Lovise Stakkestad and Olav Michal Nilsen. Her father passed during WWII when she was 9, and she didn’t have memories of him since he was gone on a ship for so long. Although, she remembered her mother leaving her for a year with her mormor (grandmother) whom she loved dearly so her mother could join her father at sea. When her mother returned home, she was pregnant with her younger surviving sister Elise Marie (Frustol). She shared vivid memories of her excitement about her sister’s birth and made songs about it as well.
As a result of losing her father, Olaud was given some money from Norway and was encouraged by her mother to go to America. Although she described herself as shy and not able to speak English, she left Norway and set her sails for America at age 18. Others hearing her story considered her adventurous and brave. Olaud arrived on March 17, 1952, in New York during a Saint Patrick’s Day parade, and from there headed by Amtrak to her uncle’s home who had a dairy farm in the State of Washington. She got a job working at a nursing home there that housed many Norwegians who assisted her in learning and perfecting her English. One Sunday while at church, a couple of young ladies (Frances and Carmen) visited and shared about the mission field and needing help. Olaud wanted to go. So, she left Washington and went to Los Angeles, California to serve and learn.
The American Soul Clinic in Los Angeles is where Olaud first met the love of her life, Kenneth Luciano Lelevier. She was stricken with his handsomeness and joyful spirit. They both ended up being missionaries in Mexico separately but joined forces and got married in Mexico City on April 22, 1955. They had a beautiful family of five children: 1) Their firstborn son Daniel Osvald was born in Panama that she lovingly called “Her Panamanian”; then 2) Olaf Stephen; 3) Paul Arne; 4) Rhoda Elizabeth; and 5) John Eric Lelevier. They currently have 15 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. They were married for 58 years before Kenneth’s passing on December 3, 2013. Olaud followed him in passing on March 13, 2023.
They both loved the Lord, cherished their family and served others in their giftings of love, joy and hospitality. Both passed away in their Potrero home surrounded by love to usher them into the Lord’s presence within a 10-year span. They were pillars in the Potrero community and served the church and other organizations with their love gifts. Olaud was a proud Norwegian and American, and proud of her husband’s service in the Army and her three grandchildren’s service as well. On March 28, 2023, Kenneth Luciano Lelevier’s remains will join his wife’s body, and they will be buried together at the Miramar National Cemetery to honor their love for each other and everyone else.
SERVICES
March 26, 2023 at 2:00pm
Celebration of Life Memorial Service at:
Potrero Community Church
26411 CA-94
Potrero, CA 91963
March 28, 2023 at 11am
Viewing at:
East County Memorial Service
374 Magnolia Avenue
El Cajon, CA 92020
T: 619-440-9900
March 28, 2023 at 2:15pm
Final Resting Place at:
Miramar National Cemetery
5795 Nobel Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
T: 858-658-7360
Olaud Nilsen was born in Haugesund, Norway on August 9, 1933 to Esther Lovise Stakkestad and Olav Michal Nilsen. Her father passed during WWII when she was 9, and she didn’t have memories of him since he was gone on a ship for so long. Although, she remembered her mother leaving her for a year with her mormor (grandmother) whom she loved dearly so her mother could join her father at sea. When her mother returned home, she was pregnant with her younger surviving sister Elise Marie (Frustol). She shared vivid memories of her excitement about her sister’s birth and made songs about it as well.
As a result of losing her father, Olaud was given some money from Norway and was encouraged by her mother to go to America. Although she described herself as shy and not able to speak English, she left Norway and set her sails for America at age 18. Others hearing her story considered her adventurous and brave. Olaud arrived on March 17, 1952, in New York during a Saint Patrick’s Day parade, and from there headed by Amtrak to her uncle’s home who had a dairy farm in the State of Washington. She got a job working at a nursing home there that housed many Norwegians who assisted her in learning and perfecting her English. One Sunday while at church, a couple of young ladies (Frances and Carmen) visited and shared about the mission field and needing help. Olaud wanted to go. So, she left Washington and went to Los Angeles, California to serve and learn.
The American Soul Clinic in Los Angeles is where Olaud first met the love of her life, Kenneth Luciano Lelevier. She was stricken with his handsomeness and joyful spirit. They both ended up being missionaries in Mexico separately but joined forces and got married in Mexico City on April 22, 1955. They had a beautiful family of five children: 1) Their firstborn son Daniel Osvald was born in Panama that she lovingly called “Her Panamanian”; then 2) Olaf Stephen; 3) Paul Arne; 4) Rhoda Elizabeth; and 5) John Eric Lelevier. They currently have 15 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. They were married for 58 years before Kenneth’s passing on December 3, 2013. Olaud followed him in passing on March 13, 2023.
They both loved the Lord, cherished their family and served others in their giftings of love, joy and hospitality. Both passed away in their Potrero home surrounded by love to usher them into the Lord’s presence within a 10-year span. They were pillars in the Potrero community and served the church and other organizations with their love gifts. Olaud was a proud Norwegian and American, and proud of her husband’s service in the Army and her three grandchildren’s service as well. On March 28, 2023, Kenneth Luciano Lelevier’s remains will join his wife’s body, and they will be buried together at the Miramar National Cemetery to honor their love for each other and everyone else.
SERVICES
March 26, 2023 at 2:00pm
Celebration of Life Memorial Service at:
Potrero Community Church
26411 CA-94
Potrero, CA 91963
March 28, 2023 at 11am
Viewing at:
East County Memorial Service
374 Magnolia Avenue
El Cajon, CA 92020
T: 619-440-9900
March 28, 2023 at 2:15pm
Final Resting Place at:
Miramar National Cemetery
5795 Nobel Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
T: 858-658-7360