Arthur E. Olson

Arthur E. Olson, 92, of Devils Lake, passed away on Thursday, August 12, 2010 in the loving care of his family. Mass of Christian Burial for Arthur will be held on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Dale Kinzler will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Monday from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Visitation from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:30 p.m. The Rosary will be led by the Knights of Columbus. Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Casket Bearers for Art will be his grandsons, Brandon Kjelden, Toby Hoffner, Matthew Olson, Mitchell Olson, Christopher Olson, Jayme Olson, Kenny Olson and Sean Olson. Reading the Scriptures will be Katherine Axdahl and Ann Dye. Gift Bearers will be Art’s granddaughters Shelby Olson, Kensi Kjelden and Robin Olson. Music will be provided by Kensi Kjelden, Lynne Webster, Tom Burckhard and JoDee Lagein Eucharist Minister will be Rose Windjue. Arthur E. Olson was born on December 8, 1917 at Garske, ND the loving son of William and Pauline (Zettler) Olson. At a young age he moved with his family to a farm in Noonan Township where he lived and attended school. Art entered the United States Navy at Grand Forks, ND on December 21, 1937. He served his country overseas during World War II aboard the USS Idaho. He was honorably discharged on October 16, 1945 after 8 years of service. He achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. While in the Navy, Art participated in boxing. Art was united in marriage to Lenore Keller on November 6, 1951 at Devils Lake. They established their home in Devils Lake where they lived, worked and raised their family through the years. Art worked as the Mayer Hotel and also did custom combining for many years. In 1960 he became manager of the Knights of Columbus Club which he faithfully managed for 22 years, retiring in May of 1982. There were a few passions in Art’s life and farming and softball were two of them. He still drove the tractor on the farm at age 85. He took pride in managing Fast Pitch softball teams for many years and his teams took numerous state championships. He also took the Boys’ 18 and under Fast Pitch Team to the National Championship Tournament in Prescott, Arizona. He participated in other sports including bowling, golf and curling. Art was very instrumental in establishing the sport of curling in Devils Lake and was a member of the Lake Region Curling Club. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus and the Devils Lake Elks Lodge and was a member of the VFW. Other pastimes were playing cards, especially Whist and Up the River and watching almost any kind of sporting event on TV. Art was known for giving nicknames to family and friends, such as Paulewog, Occo, Stretch, Kat the Rat and Hoopty Doo. His sense of humor and joy was evident in all areas of Art’s life and he could always be heard whistling and singing cowboy songs. Art is survived by his daughters Adele (Walt) Wheeler of Texarkana, Texas, Paulette (Gib) Kjelden and Kristi (Dave Joramo) Olson all of Devils Lake and Terri (Tim) Berg of West Fargo, ND; sons Mark (Kathy) Olson and Randy (Beth) Olson also of Devils Lake; grandchildren Dawn (Richard) Redfearn, Jacob (Jennifer) Wheeler, Michael Wheeler; Shelby (Brandon) Olson, Brandon (Jodi) Kjelden, Kensi Kjelden (fiance Jake Wateland) ; Toby Hoffner, Matthew (Sharlene) Olson, Mitchell Olson; Christopher Olson, Robin Olson, Jayme Olson, Kenneth Olson and Sean Olson; great grandchildren Jacob, Isabella, Abigail, Ella, Cameron, Benjamin, Jillian, Skya and Lexus; brother Lloyd (Mavis) Stromme of West Fargo, ND; sister Marie (Gary) Anderson of Reynolds, ND; sisters-in-law Delores Stromme, Bloomfield, Colorado, Loretta Buchmeier, Devils Lake, Louise (Clarence) Morse, Fargo, ND, Laura McCarthy and Jane (Jim) Thompson of Devils Lake and Gloria Keller of Lansford, ND; many nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Art was preceded in death by his wife Lenore Olson on December 29, 1999; son Kenneth Olson; granddaughter Miranda Olson; his parents; stepfather Clarence Stromme; sister Oleva Hunt and brothers Norman Olson, John Stromme and Floyd Stromme. Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association.