Red Lake Falls - Ernest G. Olson, 88, formerly of Thief River Falls, died Monday, November 23, 1998 at Hillcrest Nursing Home in Red Lake Falls.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 28 at Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Thief River Falls, with Reverend Robert Dahlen officiating. Grace Hammer was the organist and soloist. Heather Olson and Grace Hammer sang a duet. Casketbearers were Bob Homme, Roger Hesse, Myles Olson, Lyle Olson, Elwood Tieman and Myles Koop. Burial was in Bethany Cemetery in Smiley township of Pennington county. The Green Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Ernest Garfield Olson was born on April 4, 1910 in Kratka township of Pennington county, the son of Theodore and Anna (Forsberg) Olson. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He attended school in St. Hilaire where he graduated from high school.
Following high school Ernie worked on local farms. He also worked construction as a cement finisher for 10 years at the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington. During World War II he worked on Naval construction in Dutch Harbor, AK and Hawaii.
After moving back to rural Thief River Falls Ernest started farming and working in beet production for American Crystal Sugar. He cared for his mother for many years. He later worked in maintenance for Arctic Cat. He lived in rural Goodridge before moving to Fosston where he lived for six years. For the past two years Ernest has resided at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in Thief River Falls.
He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and the Eagle's Aerie of Thief River Falls. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards and spending time with family and friends.
Ernest is survived by one sister, Iona Sabai of Centerville, OH; two brothers, Amos (Aretha) Olson of Yuma, AZ and Rufus (Violet) Olson of Thief River Falls; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Lester Olson and Miles Olson.