Donald Olson

Donald R. Olson, age 86, of Little Falls, MN, passed away Thursday, May 12, 2011, at the St. Cloud Hospital. Funeral Services will be held at 11:30 A.M. Monday, May 16, 2011 at First Lutheran Church in Little Falls, MN, with Rev. Dave Sperstad officiating. Interment will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls, MN, with military honors by the Little Falls V.F.W. Post #1112 and American Legion Post #46. Visitation will be held at the church two hours prior to the service. Donald was born on May 13, 1924 in London Township, Freeborn County, Minnesota the son of Minar & Ethel (Slater) Olson. He grew up on a farm near Albert Lea and attended country school. He enlisted in the United States Army on January 23, 1943 and was honorably discharged on February 25, 1946. While working at Munsingwear in Albert Lea, MN he met a beautiful woman named Clarice "Clare" Schallock. The couple was married on August 2, 1950 in Albert Lea. They made their home in Albert Lea and then moved to Mason City, IA, St. Louis Park, MN and finally to Little Falls in 1967. Don enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, scuba diving, woodworking and playing cribbage and Black Jack. He especially enjoyed playing with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Little Falls and the Little Falls V.F.W. Post #1112 and the Little Falls American Legion Post #46. Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Mike (Deb) Olson of Hawaii, Tim (Cheryl) Olson of Little Falls, Joni (Chris) Larsen of Little Falls, Mark Olson of Richmond, TX; Laurie (Donald) Moede of Wheatland, WY; 14 grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren and sister-in-law, Opal Schallock of Albert Lea, MN. Donald was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 60 years, Clarice "Clare" Olson (March14, 2011); son, Steven Olson (1951), brothers, Earl (Marietta) Olson and Irwin Olson and nephew, Greg Schallock. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack & Diane Grosso. Casket bearers will be Bjorn Olson, Clay Olson, Lars Olson, Eric Larsen, Joey Hassler, Steven Hassler, Jackson Moede, Megan McDonald, Nicole Olson, Amanda Olson, Brent Olson, Ryan Olson, Kaitlin Olson and Cathy Thompson.