Marilyn Faye (Wachtel) Olseen was born January 2, 1933, at home (as it was during the Great Depression) on the Wachtel Family Farm, 2.5 miles south of Melvin, Iowa. She joined her family of father George W. Wachtel, mother Clarice (Jochums) Wachtel, and brother Steve (Gayheart) Wachtel.