CYNTHIA ANN OLSON

Cynthia Ann Olson, 59 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at her home after many years of battling health problems. Funeral Services for Cynthia will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Reverend Jeff Nicla officiating. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on Thursday at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Graveside Services will be held on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, St. Michael. Music will be provided by James Travers. Cynthia Ann was born on January 21, 1952 at Butte, Montana the daughter of Oswald and Frances (Cavanaugh) Olson. At a young age she moved with the family to Sioux City, Iowa where she was reared and educated. Cynthia was united in marriage to Joseph Teel Jr. in 1968 in Iowa. They made their home in Iowa with frequent trips back to North Dakota. Cynthia attended UND, Grand Forks and received her degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. In the early 1980’s the family moved to the Lake Region area where they lived and worked through the years. She also obtained a Bilingual Degree in the Native American language. from Cankdeska Cikana Community College. Cynthia taught for many years at Four Winds, Fort Totten and also worked as a substitute teacher for the Devils Lake School System for several years. Due to increasing health problems, Cynthia was forced to retire. Cynthia was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and the National Honor Society. Cynthia loved the outdoors and the beauty of nature. She enjoyed fishing, gardening and even just sitting outside on a sunny day. She loved going to rummage sales and this was always an activity she enjoyed with her children and grandchildren. And to her children and grandchildren and anyone else lucky enough to taste her cooking and baking, she was considered “awesome”. She played the accordion and loved to paint. Another outlet in her earlier years was Tae Kwon Do. She was a fierce competitor who enjoyed competition and the physical challenge. We have lost our beloved mother, grandmother, sister and aunt and we will treasure our memories forever in our hearts. Cynthia is survived by her daughters Tabitha and her husband James Lang of Devils Lake and Tonya Teel and her close friend Tom Sullivan also of Devils Lake; grandchildren Rebecca Lang, Alexandria Lang and Bailey Lang; Drew Ellingson, Thomas Sullivan and Wyatt Sullivan; Latisha Teel, Gabrielle Teel and Taurus Teel; great grandson Keaten Lang; father of their children Joseph Teel Jr. of Sheyenne, ND; sisters Helen Jacobs, St. Michael, ND, Mary (Jim) Swigart, Fort Totten, Kathy Olson (George Barr), Fargo and Diane (Danny Butts) Lewis, St. Michael; brothers Matthews “Joe” (Mary Monette) Longie and Douglas “Chuck” (Rhea Crane) Longie all of St. Michael and Orrin Olson of Devils Lake; brother David (Jean) Olson of Sioux City, Iowa; many nieces, nephews and their families. Cynthia was preceded in death by her parents; son Joseph Teel III; brother Clarence Longie and sister Virginia Erdmann.