Helmer Olson 1919-2003

OLSON, MELBOSTAD, FERRIS

Posted By: SGF (email)
Date: 10/2/2003 at 06:59:45

Helmer I. Olson, age 83, of Harpers Ferry, died Monday, May 19, 2003, at Thornton Manor Care Center in Lansing following a brief illness. Funeral services were held Friday, May 23 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Martin Funeral Home, Waukon, assisted with arrangements. Helmer Ingvold Olson was born October 18, 1919, on the rural Harpers Ferry farm of his parents, Henry and Ida (Melbostad) Olson. He was baptized and confirmed at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, attended the "Prairie" rural school, Lansing High School, and graduated from Waterville High School in 1938. Following school, he worked in the Chicago Stockyards for a time before returning to the Harpers Ferry area, where he farmed for many years. In addition to farming, he owned and operated Olson Brothers Sawmill along with his brothers, and was a fur trapper. Helmer was a member of Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church, where he served as a deacon and trustee. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and trapping, and was a member of a trappers association. Survivors include two brothers, Alton (Dorothy) Olson and Lloyd (Ruby) Olson, both of Harpers Ferry; a sister, Amy Ferris of Burlington, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Dolores Olson of Ossian; three nieces, Linda Durfee, Lorraine Trey, and Deborah Whiteaker; three nephews, Leonard Johnson and David and Robert Olson; along with several grandnieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Orville.Honorary casketbearers were Francis Walleser, Norman Rema, Melbourne Evanson, Dolores Olson, Deborah Whiteaker, Lorraine Trey, Leonard Johnson, Lyle Larson, Linda Durfee, George Huffey, Mandy Olson, Jason Durfee, Kelly Webb, Lisa McGinnity, Larry Johnson, and Janet Olson. Casketbearers were Herb Dehli, Franklin Weymiller, David Olson, Robert Olson, Steve Hill, and Chad Olson.

©Waukon Standard 2003
-source: Waukon Standard May 29, 2003