Irving C. Olson, 84, of Leeds, ND, died Monday, April 26th, 2010, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks.  Memorial Services will be held Friday, April 30, 2010,  11:00 AM  at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, rural Minnewaukan with Pastor Harold Ovre officiating.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.  Military Rites will be accorded by the Robert Tovsrud VFW Post #757 of Harlow and the Theodore A. Togstad American Legion Post #123 of Maddock. Urn bearer will be  Chris Warner.  Honorary bearers include his grandchildren:  Dion, Dale & Chris Warner, Valerie Dziwulski,  Christopher Johnson,  Jeremy Antonson,  Brady Elverud,  Ryan and Ross Olson and Shannon Rosenau as well as Bob Helgeson,  Paul Neis,  Harris Togstad,  Curt Kenner, Dave Kenner,  Lyle Gilbertson and Arlo Schmidt.  Visitation will be at the church an hour before the service.  Music for the service will be from Carl Gilbertson, vocalist with Carol Thompson, organist.

Irving C. Olson was born August 14, 1925 to Iver and Clara (Helgeson) Olson at his grandparent's farm in Butte Valley Township of Benson County, ND  (near Harlow, ND). He attended the Lincoln school in Butte Valley Township and then worked for area farmers until entering the US Navy on May 23, 1944 during WWII.  Following an honorable discharged on May 13, 1946, he returned home.   Irving and Isabella Bickler were married September 18, 1947 at Minnewaukan, ND. They lived on the Carl Helgeson Farm near Harlow.  Throughout the years, he worked as a farmer, carpenter and butcher, living for a time in Rugby and Leeds.  The couple moved to Mandan, ND in 1989 and then to Devils Lake in 1993 where he was the tool room manager at Lake Region State College for several years.  He returned to Mandan, living there until his health failed, returning to Leeds in May of 2009.  Irving was currently residing at Valley Eldercare in Grand Forks.

Irving had memberships in the Esmond VFW Post 4251,  the Robert Tovsrud VFW Post #757 of Harlow and the Theodore A. Togstad American Legion Post #123 of Maddock.  He had been a member of the Elks, Eagles and the Fish Lake Wild Life Club.  Irving enjoyed working many auction sales with Arlo Schmidt.

Surviving are his children:  Bonnie Kay (Lloyd) Himle of Leeds, ND,  Terri Greene of West Fargo, ND,  Sherri (Mark) Johnson of Casselton, ND,  Shelli Elverud of Fargo, ND and Randy (Cindy) Olson of Devils Lake, ND;  10 grandchildren;  4 great-grandchildren;  and sisters:  Delores Johnson of Rugby, ND and Clara "Kelly" Ann Barnes of Rockford, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents;  wife;  granddaughter:  Tiffany Johnson; a step-son:  Dewey Wallace; brothers:  Harvey Olson and Arden Thompson and five step-Thompson siblings.



Condolences:

Chris Warner has been a special part of our life for some time.  This note is because of and especially for her.   Our sympathy goes out to the family at this time.   Frank & Mary Mobley

Bonnie, Dion, Dale and Chris, Sorry for your loss.  We're thinking of you during this difficult time.                              Love,   Sandra, Chad, Grant and Jessye Bryant

Irving, my dear old friend, I'm so sorry to see you go and really miss the daily chats we had last year catching up on old times. We know you are in a new peaceful place and grateful for that. Bonnie Kay, Shelli, Sherri, Terri and Allan and all the family - we offer our heartfelt sympathy for your loss and thank you for sharing and making memories of Irving with us. We had a great time last year at Irving and Dexter's birthday cookout at the park and so glad he touched our lives.   Jan & Dexter Lee