Olson, Kenneth Lowell 1931-2010

OLSON, HATTLESTAD, JACOBSON, PETER, ALBERT

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/13/2012 at 12:15:05

Kenneth L. Olson, age 79, of Decorah, IA, died Sunday morning, October 24, 2010 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, October 29, 2010 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. Marian Pruitt-Jefferson officiating. Burial will be in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah with full military honors.

Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 P.M. Thursday, October 28 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Friday one hour before the service at the church.

Kenneth Lowell Olson was born September 9, 1931 in Wentworth, South Dakota to Luella (Hattlestad) and Martin Olson. He was baptized Oct 12, 1931 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison, South Dakota by the Rev. Seth Eastvold. From Madison, SD the family moved to Albert Lea, Minnesota, Mason City, Iowa, and then to Decorah, Iowa when Ken was about 10 years old. He was confirmed by Rev. T.A. Hoff on July 1, 1945 at First Lutheran Church. Ken graduated from Decorah High School in 1949. He was in the Army from 1951-1953 and served as an MP (Military Police) in San Francisco, CA. Ken was on board a ship for Korea when it was announced the ship was overloaded and he was one of the men dismissed from ship, thereby never being sent overseas.

Ken met his beloved soul mate, Helen Elaine Jacobson, when she had returned to her hometown of Decorah on a two-week vacation while she was living in New Orleans, Louisiana. They met on a Friday. Six days later Ken proposed and six weeks from the day they met they were married. Needless to say Helen never returned to Louisiana. They were married on July 8, 1955 at the First Lutheran Church in Decorah by the Rev B.A. Johnson, 55 years ago.

Ken was hauling canned milk from farm to creamery at the time they were married and continued to do so for three years. He then worked for Anderson Distribution delivering Hamm’s Beer for 12 years. In 1968, with the encouragement of then Hercules Explosives salesman, E. St. Pierre Bellinger (“Bell”), he entered into the explosives business. Ken officially retired on May 1, 2008 after 40 years. Olson Explosives, Inc. is now owned and operated by his son & daughter, Mark and Judy, who had worked for many years side by side with their father. For Ken, family and business were his first priority taking up the majority of his time. He did enjoy golf, his card club and winter vacations in Yuma, Arizona and Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Ken is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Helen, his three children: Mark (Jenny) Olson, Karla (Dale) Olson, Judy (Dale) Peter, and his six beloved grandchildren: Melanie, Melissa and Jason Olson, Jon and Sara Olson, and Rhonda (Chopper) Albert. Rhonda blessed him with his one great-granddaughter, 3½-year-old, Ariana Albert.

Ken is also survived by one brother, Donald Olson; sister-in-law, Florence Olson; brother-in-law, Galen Jacobson, all of Decorah, Roger (Jerene) Jacobson, Prescott, AZ. and five nieces and nephews.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Carl & Martha Jacobson; one brother, Ronald Olson; and one sister-in-law, Mabel Olson.

The family celebrates the last thirty years they have enjoyed with Ken, due to his ability to fight all the medical obstacles thrown at him. (aka: A Strong, Stubborn Norwegian). “Angel’s took the strongest Norwegian this morning”….. Missy

Memorials may be made to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515, Northampton, Mass 01061-0515

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Phelps Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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