Lorraine Olson

Lorraine D. Olson, 82, Elbow Lake, died Saturday, October 29, 2011, at the Broen Memorial Home in Fergus Falls. She was born in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, on December 8, 1928, to George and Barbara Herrmann and had five brothers and two sisters and was the only one in the family to be born in a hospital. When Lorraine was about three years old, the family moved to a farm in North Dakota in the southeast corner of the state where North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota meet. She had a normal rural farm upbringing with plenty of chores. She remembered helping prepare meals for the threshing crews during harvest, taking care of her younger brother and sister, and everyday household chores, which were a little tougher than our everyday chores. She went to school for 12 years in Fairmount, North Dakota, and graduated at the top of her class. Shortly after, she met Brice Olson from Wheaton, Minnesota. He had just served four years in the Navy during WW II. They were married at the Holy Lutheran Parsonage in Wheaton on December 9, 1946, and ten children were born to this union: six girls and four boys. When first married, they lived on a farm by Wheaton and then moved to White Rock, South Dakota, just south of her family farm, in the northeast corner of South Dakota. Lorraine worked there for several years as office clerk in the railroad depot for the CMSTP&P, the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad. She remembered exactly what those initials meant when talking with her daughters in preparation for her 80th birthday celebration. In 1952, the family moved to South St. Paul, where Brice worked at Standard Conveyer. The family moved back to White Rock a couple of years later, then moved to Wendell in 1957, where Brice worked at the Wendell elevator and Lorraine as a waitress and cook at the local café (plus housewife and mother, always); then at Rose & Louie's café in Elbow Lake. The family moved to Elbow Lake in 1967 and, shortly after, Lorraine started her job as office manager at Culligan, where she worked for 39 years before retiring at age 77 in June of 2006. In her busy life, she taught Sunday school for many years, was Circle chair for five years and a deacon for three years. She was treasurer of the Senior Citizen Day Center for five years. Lorraine retired in June 2006 from Culligan and then enjoyed being a lady of leisure. She had many hobbies and interests, such as playing cards, reading, puzzling (crossword and jigsaw), listening to country music, visiting friends, and spending time with all the families. Lorraine is survived by her children Judith Nohre of Minneapolis, Joanne (Steve) Johnson of Minneapolis, Janet (Lowell) Schmidt of Lakeland, Gloria (Gary) Lee of Barnesville, Douglas (Matilda) Olson of Virginia Beach, VA, Harland Olson of Moorhead, Donna (Robert) Petko of Fergus Falls, Carol Olson of New York Mills, and Donald (Sheri) Olson of Battle Lake; 16 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Other survivors include her siblings Dorothy (Luther) Bauman of Wahpeton, ND, Stanley Herrmann of Chippewa Falls, WI, Darlene (Merrel) Moore of Underwood, and Leonard (Lottie) Herrmann of Biwabik; sisters-in-law Margaret Herrmann of Biwabik and June Herrmann of Wheaton. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Brice, brothers Ralph, Arnold, and Donald, and one son, Ronald. Lorraine was an insightful woman who looked for the positive in life. She was a kind, loving, strong-spirited mother and grandmother who touched the hearts of many.

Funeral Home: Erickson-Smith Funeral Home - Elbow Lake 116 1st Street NE Elbow Lake, MN US 56531

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Visitation
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Service
Thursday, November 3, 2011

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