Vernon Gale Olson 1922 - 1999

OLSON, RUDE, GRASS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/9/2014 at 17:05:37

19 December 1999

MAPLETON, Iowa — Vernon Gale Olson, 77, of Mapleton died unexpectedly Friday, Dec. 17, 1999, at his residence.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Peters United Church of Christ in Mapleton, with the Rev. Bob Fritzmeier officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, with military rites conducted by American Legion Loren Hollister Post 496 of Mapleton. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton.

Mr. Olson was born May 22, 1922, near Soldier, Iowa, the son of Olius and Anna (Rude) Olson. He was raised and attended country school in the Soldier and Moorhead, Iowa area. He graduated from Moorhead High School in 1939. He then helped on the family farm and worked for other area farmers.

He married Opal N. Grass on July 16, 1944, in Soldier. The couple farmed near Ute, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant during World War II, stationed in the South Pacific. Following his discharge, he was employed with Jack Thompson's Grocery Store and Bupane Gas Co. They then farmed near Mapleton for 33 years until 1979, when they moved into Mapleton. He was then employed with Westendorf Manufacturing Co. in Onawa, Iowa, as a salesman and exhibitor for 17 years before retiring.

He was a member of St. Peter's United Church of Christ, where he was a former Sunday School superintendent and teacher. He was also a member of American Legion Loren Hollister Post 496 and Royal Neighbors of America.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter and her husband, Sharon and Leonard Ainsworth of Des Moines; a son and his wife, Randy and Betty Lou of Ute, Iowa; four grandchildren, Tracye Harper, Trent Ainsworth, and Amanda and Bri Anna Olson; twin great-grandchildren; three sisters and their husbands, Marva and Wilbur Holtorf of Phoenix, Marilyn and Jack Argotsinger of Nevada, Iowa, and Maribelle and Richard Betterton of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and a brother and his wife, Russell and Donna of Omaha.

He was preceded in death by his parents.