Ethel M. (Connett) Olson

NOTICE: Interment for Ethel will be this Sunday, August 25, at 2:00 PM, in Greenwood Cemetery, Warren.

Ethel M. Olson, 95, formerly of Viking, MN, passed away on Saturday morning, August 17, 2019, in Oakland Park Nursing Home, Thief River Falls, MN.

Mary Ethel Olson was born on June 25, 1924, to Claude and Bessie (Cooper) Connett, at home in Raub, ND. Early in life, she met another girl named “Mary” and didn't like her: so the name “Ethel” stuck. The family moved off their ranch in 1938 during the Depression to try their luck in northwest Minnesota, eventually buying some land 6 miles northeast of Radium. Ethel attended country school and became smitten with a boy, Raymond L. Olson, from a neighboring farm. She followed him to Stephen, MN, and the two were united in marriage on September 26, 1942. They lived there for a short while before Ethel had her first baby. The young couple decided to return to the homeplace, and bought some land near Viking.

They would continue the work of the previous generation: working the land, raising cows and pigs, and feeding their family from their labors, side-by-side. In addition to this, Ethel kept the home and a garden, cooked the meals, and canned just about everything- to say nothing of the extra work during potato harvest. She was a skilled seamstress and quilter, and was a member of both the North Dakota and Thief River Falls Quilters guilds. As a general rule, if there was a task that involved a needle, thread, and some patience, she was great at it. Ethel also taught craft and crochet classes in addition to the 2-3 projects she always had going to keep her from sitting still too long.

After her children were in school, Ethel worked a number of jobs including waitressing at the Wagon Wheel, Katy's Kitchen, Epicure, E&R Drive Inn, and Gary's Rainbow Bakery. Following those, she worked at Hardware Hank in Warren, MN for 17 years, where she enjoyed helping patrons problem solve through her years of experience on the farm. Raymond passed away on August 14, 1981. Ethel continued to live on her own and devotedly drive to BINGO (rain or shine) until October of 2016, when she moved in to Oakland. She loved visits from her family and even became invested watching Twins ballgames when her kids came to visit.

Ethel is survived by her two children, RaeAnn (Harris) Halvorson and Leonard (Jocelyn) Olson both of Viking; grandchildren from her daughter, Alicia (Les) Backer, Chad (Shelly) Peters, and Kris (Scott) Mostrom; grandchildren from her son, Catherine Olson and Tina (Mike) Hartel; 15 great-grandchildren, Josie Peterson and Camdyn, Jonathon, Isabella, and Tyson Backer, Cody (Steph) Peters, Ayden, Maverick, and Stephie Peters, Kassidy and Kaden Mostrom, Lindsey (Mike) Saulton, Jamie and Stevie Vance, Jackson Smith, Jacob (Alissa) Smith, and Mallorie and Josh Swenson; 3 great-great-grandchildren, Madalyn, Landon, Autumn, and Azure; sisters, Dorothy Palm of Warren, and Donna (Donnie) Gram of Zimmerman, MN; sister-in-law, Barb Connett; many nieces and nephews; and others who were “like family” to her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond; and siblings, Beatrice (Morris) Gunderson, Helen (Bob) Larkin, and John L. Connett.

Blessed be her memory.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at 2:00 PM, in DuBore Funeral Home Chapel, Warren, MN
VISITATION: One hour prior.
COFFEE AND BARS: To follow in the Warren Community Center.
INTERMENT: Sunday, August 25, 2019, at 2:00 PM, in Greenwood Cemetery, Warren.