Dale Olson

Dale LeRoy Olson of Alvarado died Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at the Valley Eldercare Center in Grand Forks. He was 89.

He was born on August 18, 1926 in a two-room house in rural Alvarado during the Great Depression to Oscar and Hildeborg (Hendrickson) Olson. His father, Oscar, was a farmer and unloaded goods from the railroad.

He was nicknamed “Dick” as a boy by one of his father’s farmhands for reasons unknown, and it stuck.

Dick served in the Army in the Pacific Rim in the latter years of World War II, where he drove truck and served as a driver to his company commander. His family often joked that Hitler saw the strong Minnesota farm kid coming and just gave up.

In 1949, he married Dorothy Hanson. Dick said that he married up, since Dorothy’s family had a car long before his did. Dick and Dorothy lived in a little two-story house next to Bethlehem Lutheran Church before moving out to the family farm south of Alvarado in 1960, where they raised their three girls—Paulette, Deb, and Jennifer.

Dick loved his farm, family, and community, probably in that order. He was a proud member of the American Legion and lovingly cared for Oaklawn Cemetery in Alvarado for two decades. He served on the school board and helped make countless numbers of klub, potato sausage, and lefse. In his retirement, he spent mornings with the guys at Sands Locker and city hall drinking coffee and giving each other a bad time.

He was a man of unshakable faith and a lifelong member of New Hope (formerly Bethlehem) Lutheran Church. He was known for his generosity, kindness, and quick wit.

He always left a bit of mashed potatoes on his plate.

Dick loved watching the rodeo and Bison football and keeping an eye on his nephews who took over the farm. He put grain out for the deer during hard winters and had a lifelong battle with red squirrels. He was an avid reader of World War II history. He had given up on the Minnesota Vikings. He loved the quietness of his farm, and at times would joke that his dream was moving to the “wilderness” of Minnesota where he would grow his hair long and live with the wolves.

His daughters will always remember trips to the family cabin at Lake of the Woods, Sunday drives after church to look at the fields (they all looked the same to them), and his 10-minute naps on the kitchen floor during dinner break from the field, as well as his big smile and loving heart. His work boots sitting on the front steps were always a sign to them that supper was ready and the day almost done.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; mother, Hildeborg; father, Oscar; a brother, Bill; three sisters: Ivadelle, Delores, and Arla; and his cat, Toomie, and horse, Apache.

He is survived by his three daughters, Paulette (Jim) Thompson of Breezy Point, MN; Deb (Gene) Cross of Bloomington, MN and Jen Olson of Seattle, WA; four grandchildren; two great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at New Hope Lutheran Church in Alvarado, MN.

VISITATION: After 5:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Friday, September 11, 2015 at New Hope Lutheran Church in Alvarado and one hour before services at the church on Saturday.

INTERMENT: Oaklawn Cemetery, Alvarado, MN

MILITARY SERVICE: Alvarado American Legion Post #35

All are welcome to help Dick’s family and community celebrate his long, loving life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to three organizations that were special to Dick: Oaklawn Cemetery, Valley Eldercare Center, and the American Legion of Alvarado.

 Service Information