OSCAR M. OLSON

Oscar M. Olson, 93 of Devils Lake, ND passed away, Tuesday evening, December 31, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Center, Devils Lake. Funeral Services for Oscar will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with Rev. Jeff Nicla officiating. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery in the spring of 2014 with Military Honors at that time. Music will be provided by Lynda and Russell Pearson. Oscar M. Olson was born on May 28, 1920 on a farm, northwest of McVille, ND the son of Henry and Lena (Shefte) Olson. He was reared in the McVille area and attended a country school, Center #1 in Nelson County. He was baptized and confirmed at the local Lutheran church. He worked for several years as a farm laborer near Michigan and McVille, ND. He moved to St. Paul, MN and worked as a railroad employee for 2 years and in the maintenance department at the Bethel Motel for several years. Oscar entered the United States Army at Fort Snelling, MN on November 14, 1942 and served his country stateside at Fort Benning, Georgia during World War II. He was honorably discharged on April 26, 1943 with the rank of Private. Oscar returned to North Dakota and settled in Devils Lake working at Grandma’s Café for over 6 years. He was also very active as a volunteer in the Lake Region. He was a faithful Bell Ringer for the Salvation Army and also dedicated many hours of service to the Senior Meals and Services Program. Oscar enjoyed visiting with family and friends and when at home he enjoyed watching several favorite TV programs. He loved John Deere tractors and horses. He felt a special blessing came to him whenever he had the opportunity to volunteer his time to help others. He shared a birthday with his niece Nancy Hassinger and they enjoyed celebrating it together. Oscar was a quiet, gentle man and he will be missed by those who loved him, especially his sister. Oscar is survived by his sister, Mabel Hassinger of St. Paul, MN, several nieces and nephews and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; step mother Mary Shefte-Olson and his brother Thelmer Olson.