Curtis D. OLSON

OLSON, OPHEIM, TEGLAND, RYAN, GRAHAM, DAVIS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/2/2008 at 09:20:53

February 28, 2008
Fort Dodge Messenger

CASCADE — Curtis D. Olson, 74, of 722 2nd Ave NW, Cascade, Iowa, died Sunday, February 24, 2008 at his home in Cascade, Iowa unexpectedly. The family will greet friends and family from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 1, 2008 at Reiff Funeral Home in Cascade, Iowa. A Masonic service will be held at 10:30 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Flag Presentation will be done by the Cascade American Legion-Post #528. A memorial service will also be held at a later date in Humboldt, IA.

Curt was born in Bode, IA on July 25, 1933 to Henry M. and Cora (Opheim) Olson. Upon completing high school, he worked for Northwestern Bell until he was called to the Army to serve his country where he excelled in sniper and communications training. After completing his duty, he returned to work for Northwestern Bell. He continued to work in the telephone industry for 48 years, managing independent telephone companies in Lone Rock, IA, Goldfield, IA, Green City, MO and Cascade, IA, retiring in 1999. Curt was united in marriage to Gael Tegland on March 29, 1958 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt, IA. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Kathleen, Jennifer, Thomas and Sarah.

He was active in and served as President and Director of the Iowa Telephone Association, being passionate about bringing big-city technologies to rural communities. He was a member of the Burns Masonic Lodge #173 in Monticello, IA, an amateur radio enthusiast, and was active in various civic projects, such as the Tri-County Historical Society and designing and building the golf course in Goldfield, IA. He enjoyed genealogy and loved to play golf.

His memory will be cherished by his wife, Gael; daughter Kate Ryan, her husband, Paul and their children, Joe and Nick of Wichita, KS; daughter, Jenni Graham and her children, Kendall and Alex of San Antonio, TX; son Tom Olson and wife, Holly of Ft. Myers, FL; daughter, Sarah Davis and her children, Curt and Tony of San Antonio, TX; and sisters, Thelma, Melba, Aleda, Jorine and Mildred.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Henry, Orville, Ronald and James, and two sisters, Lucille and Charlotte. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you please make a donation in his honor to the church or charity of your choosing.