Roland Olson, of Alexandria and formerly of Montevideo, died on Monday, March 11, 2013 in Wesley Chapel, FL at the age of 84. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, March 22, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, MN with Rev. Hans Dahl officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo, MN. Visitation will be Thursday, March 21st from 4:30 - 6:30 P.M. at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria.
Roland A. Olson was born on July 6, 1928 in Montevideo, MN to Ralph and Bertina (Anderson) Olson. He was baptized, confirmed and grew up in Montevideo, graduating from Montevideo High School. He served in the U.S. Army. On May 11, 1952 he was united in marriage to Virginia (Ginny) Austin in Troy, Alabama. He worked for Rudy and Mabel Ekholm’s Appliance Store in Montevideo and as a meat cutter in Montevideo, Appleton and Marshall, MN. After moving to Marshall in 1959, he worked as a Federal Food Inspector for 26 years before retiring in 1988. Following his retirement they moved to Alexandria, MN and spent winters in San Antonio, FL. He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria since 1988 and Atonement Lutheran in Wesley Chapel, FL for the past 20 years. He enjoyed his dogs, fishing, golfing, remodeling and fixing up anything. He especially loved his family, grandchildren and visiting with friends.
Roland is survived by his wife, Ginny; children: Linda Russell of Eagan, MN and her daughter Melissa; Norma Olson of Apple Valley, MN; and Byron “Bud” Olson and his wife Mary of Chanhassen, MN and their children Chris, Jackie, Sara and Tom; sisters: Vange (and Glen) Harried of Lake Florida, MN and Liz Peltola of Mankato, MN; a brother, Roger (and Kay) Gustafson of Montevideo, MN and several nephews and a niece.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son-in-law, Bruce Russell; and a brother-in-law, Korby Peltola.