Genevieve Phelps

Genevieve Phelps died Thursday, October 27, 2011, at home in Allison, Colo. She was 90.

Genevieve was born August 22, 1921, to Charles Bradley and Elizabeth (King) Johnson in the family home at 162 Lewis Street in Pagosa Springs, Colo. She is preceded in death by her first husband James Theodore Olsen and her parents.

While Genevieve was staying with her grandmother to attend high school, she attended some gospel meetings held by two ministers. She felt she was hearing God’s Truth, and in 1937 she made her choice known, faithfully continuing in The Lords New Testament teachings.

Her education began at Bayles School, a little one-room school in the district. She attended high school in Pagosa Springs, but graduated from high school in Farmington, N.M. Her career began as a typist for Laura White and Bill Clark, who was Archuleta County Treasurer, and later as a bookkeeper for Dunagan Motor Co., a Chevrolet garage in Pagosa Springs. During World War II she obtained an emergency teacher’s certificate and taught school in Trujillo, Colo. Continuing with summer college courses at Adams State College, she later taught at New Raymer, Colo.

On May 23, 1950, she and James T. Olsen were married in Aztec, N.M. Jim worked for an international construction company and their first home was in Trenton, N.J. Her daughter Alice was born there. Son Charles was born in Tracy, Calif. In 1954 they returned to Colorado, and made their home on her father’s homestead. Son James was born in Durango, Colo. All the children attended school in Pagosa Springs. Alice and James are local residents and Charles resides in Las Vegas, Nev.

Genevieve was elected Archuleta County Assessor in 1966, and served four terms, retiring in 1982. In 1978, she and Ralph Phelps of Allison were married. They shared their love of cattle ranching along with construction and other business ventures, including operating “Miller/Sambrito Recreation Park.” She was a member of the Colorado Cow Belles and Allison Ranchetts.

She is survived by her husband Ralph of Allison, children Alice (Larry) Jelinek of Pagosa Springs, Charles Olsen of Las Vegas, Nev.; and James Olsen of Pagosa Springs; stepchildren Cindy (Harry) Greer of Marvel, Colo.; and Roger (Louetta) Phelps of Sarasota, Fla.; grandsons David Jelinek of Portland, Ore.; and Adam Jelinek of Pagosa Springs; Russell and Daniel Greer of Marvel; and Derek Phelps of Allison; granddaughters Shanda (Greg) Price of Allison; Krissa Phelps of Sarasota, Fla.; five great-grandsons, one great-granddaughter, sisters Elaine Nossaman of Pagosa Springs, Charlotte Johnson of Durango, and Marilyn Mundy of Brea, Calif.; great-nieces and -nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.

A funeral will take place at 2 p.m. Monday, October 31, 2011, at Allison Grange, with burial afterward at Hilltop Cemetery.