ELMER OLSON 1913-2004

LOFTSGARD, OLSON, SCHELIN, TOSTENGARD, BAKKE, HANSON, LUNDY

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 10/7/2009 at 20:45:34

Elmer Olson

A Funeral Service for Elmer Olson was held Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. in the West Clermont Lutheran Church at Clermont, Iowa. The Reverend Paul Hjelle officiated. Sara Strong was the organist and Arthur Amundson was the soloist. The Casket Bearers were the grandchildren. The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Clermont was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in God's Acres Cemetery.

Born on February 19, 1913 in Luverne, Minnesota to Henry O. Olson and Maria E. Loftsgard Olson, Elmer N. Olson, 91, passed away on April 3, 2004 in the Good Samaritan Center at Postville, Iowa.

The Olson family came to Clermont in 1930 after first moving to the Sanborn and Valley City area of North Dakota. Elmer graduated from Clermont High School in 1933. On February 25, 1934 he married Laverl Olson, who was to be his wife for over 58 years, until her death on December 6, 1992. They had 5 children, 12 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren.

After a period of employment with Farm Services, Elmer, with Laverl working by his side, joined his brother Richard, as a proprietor of the John Deere Implement Shop in Clermont. He worked there for over 50 years, earning the name of "Mr. John Deere".

Elmer Olson exemplified the values of his Norwegian-American pioneer heritage: integrity, hard work, self-sufficiency, fair play, and concern for the needy. To him, honesty was the only policy, the way of life upon which he built his success as a family man, business person, and community leader. Baptized and confirmed a Lutheran, Elmer's faith in the goodness of God and in Jesus Christ as the way to salvation, continued to the very end of his earthly life. He always trusted in the Lord and knew that trust in others inspired trust in return.

He is survived by his children, Wayne (Sue) Olson of Phoenix, AZ, Shirley (Chuck) Schelin of Minnetonka, MN, Janice (Luther) Tostengard of Dovray, MN, Rebecca (John) Bakke of Memphis, TN, and Roger (Lisa) Olson of Minnetonka, MN; grandchildren, Mark Olson, Nancy Olson Mergens, Susan Schelin Doran, Anne Schelin, Kris Tostengard Michel, Scott Tostengard, Tom Tostengard, Matthew Bakke, Julie Bakke Fike, Paul Bakke, Maggie Olson, Sam Olson; great grandchildren, Adam Olson, Jared and Rianna Mergens, Andrew, Abigail, Matthew, and Haley Boran, Anna and Matthew Michel, Bradley and Janie Tostengard, Ashley and Matthew Fike, and Lauren and John Bakke; three brothers, Glen Olson of California, Vernon (Phyllis) Olson of Decorah, IA, and Leonard (Lorraine) of San Gabriel, CA.

He is preceded in death by two brothers, Harold and Richard, and two sisters, Myrtle Hanson and Gladys Lundy.

Elmer was a member of the West Clermont Lutheran Church, and the Clermont Community Club. He served as a member of the School Board and as Treasurer for the City of Clermont. He will be missed by his family, friends, and the entire community.

Postville Herald-Leader newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.
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