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Alice Olson • 1926- 2010 She grew up during the great depression doing her daily chores along with her eight other brothers and sisters. She not only worked hard but learned how to be a good hostess with the little they had to work with. She really liked going to school even though it was quite a hike to get to school. She even let her older brother Leonard wrap up her head with a scarf to the point where she could not see and let him lead her to school in the stormy winter weather. Alice received several awards and certificates for reading during her school years. She became an eighth grade graduate from the school in Max on May 24, 1939. Not being able to afford going to high school, Alice remained on the family farm. Helping her mother with the task of feeding their large family and helping to raise her three younger brothers, Alice continued honing her skills in baking, cooking, and housekeeping. She also studied at church and was confirmed at Zion Lutheran on October 20, 1940. When World War II broke out Alice and her older sister Gladys journeyed to the west coast to assist in the war effort. She worked in the shipyards as a ship fitter’s helper during the war. Her Dad asked her to return home in the spring to help at the family farm. A few years ago she was able to visit the World War II Memorial, and was recognized by the guide as one of many “Rosie, the Riveter’s” that helped in the war effort. After the war she returned home to the Max area, as did Richard H Olson who was returning from his army service in Europe. She said that she met him at a “pie Social” at one of the one-room township schools near Max. They were married at the Max Zion Lutheran Church on June 24, 1946. They purchased a home in South West Minot, North Dakota on November 6th of that year. The house was added on to three times and remodeled several more times but remained the family home for the rest of their lives. They immediately began raising a family. They were the parents of seven children all born at Trinity Hospital in Minot, North Dakota. Their children are Larry, Gordon, Gary, Gerald (Ole), Diane, Wendell and Curtis. Alice was very instrumental in the family becoming charter members of Mt Olivet Lutheran Church in Minot, North Dakota. Alice and her children became very active members of Mt Olivet when Richard was out of town working in the oil fields. They were members of Mt Olivet, until Mt Olivet merged with Augustana Lutheran in 1978. They joined New Life Lutheran Church in the late 90’s. Richard passed away on November 22, 2001. Even though there was never much to live on, there was always good food on the table for the large family. She did lots of creative things with baking and cooking, and always had something to share if visitors stopped by. In addition to raising her family and making a home for them, Alice did housekeeping at the Halvors Motel and Trinity Hospital and waitressed and served banquets at The Eagles Club and the Ramada Inn. Alice also found time for her hobbies of Artex fabric painting, sewing plastic canvas and other miscellaneous crafting with her homemakers club. Whenever there was enough time, Alice would be playing games with her family or visitors. For over 30 years, she kept track of everybody by listening to a police scanner. In her later years she really enjoyed collecting cardinals. She also kept meticulous records of the weather, like the highs and lows each day, and how much rain or snow there was. She claimed that she had seen frozen precipitation during all twelve months of the year during her lifetime. Even when there was lots of snow, and the temperature was well below zero, she would wave her finger in the air and always say, “It’s not too bad, you know.” Alice’s legacy to her family and the world can be summed up in three words: Loving, Giving and Caring. She raised her family to always be loving to others, giving of themselves and caring for those in need around them. She was recognized by one organization as “Mother of the Year”. These three attributes along with her cooking, baking and housekeeping skills learned in her earlier years gained Alice’s home the reputation as the place to stop for many friends and extended family whenever they came to Minot. Alice had that knack of making the sharing of a cup of coffee so enjoyable to whoever the visitor was. And those visitors were always hoping that there would be some of Alice’s special home baked buns that no one else seemed able to duplicate. Alice is survived by her son Larry and wife Donna of Bowie, MD; son Gordon and wife Judy of Burlington, ND; son Gary and wife Pam of Burlington, ND; son Gerald “Ole” and wife Claudia of Minot, ND; daughter Diane of Minot, ND; son Wendell and wife Karen of Minot, ND; son Curtis of Garrison, ND; 18 grandchildren; 21 great grand children; sister Helen Jacobson of Max, brother Robert of Max, brother Christ of Williston, ND. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard, sisters Mabel Helgesen and Eileen (Gladys) Harrison, brothers Leonard, Donald and Marvin. Funeral: Monday, December 20, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at New Life Lutheran Church, 710 46th Ave. NE, Minot, ND. Visitation: Sunday, December 19, 2010, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, ND. Prayer Service: Sunday at 7:00 p.m., at New Life Lutheran Church, Minot, ND. Burial: Monday at 2:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot, ND. Officiating Clergy: Rev. Luther Hanson and Alice’s grandson, Geremy Olson LLP Music: Congregational Hymn, “Amazing Grace” A Medley of some of Grandma Olson’s favorite songs Honorary Bearers: All of Alice’s grandchildren Active Bearers:
Alice’s grandsons Following the funeral everyone is invited to join the family for lunch and fellowship in the church fellowship hall. Our family would like to thank everyone for the many acts of kindness shown during this difficult time. Your thoughts and prayers are deeply appreciated and will never be forgotten.
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Alice Grace Olson was born on April 10, 1926 at her grandparent’s farm near Max, North Dakota. Her parents, the late Christian and Louise (Dahl) Olson had Pastor Harold Sigueland baptized her on June 10, 1926 at the Max Zion Lutheran Church.