Elaine H. Olson

Elaine H. Olson, 95, a lifelong resident of Fergus Falls, died, Saturday, September 14, 2024. She spent the last few days of her life at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls from complications due to a recent fall at her home. Her family is forever grateful for the support and care offered by PioneerCare and Knute Nelson Hospice.

She was born April 24, 1929, in Fergus Falls. Her early childhood was spent in Aastad Township with her parents Ole S. and Hulda (Ness) Bergerud. The family were members of the Aastad Lutheran Church where Elaine was baptized. Her early school years were spent at District 119, also known as the Bergerud School. Elaine has many fond memories of living on the farm which provided many outdoor activities. After the early death of her father, the family moved to Fergus Falls. Bethlehem Lutheran Church became her home church.

The fall of 1944, Elaine enrolled in the 8th grade at the Washington High School. The next four years were busy of many school, church and community activities, including being Miss Fergus Falls 1947. After graduation in 1948, Elaine left for Minneapolis where she began her studies at the Minnesota School of Business. After graduation in 1951, she returned to Fergus Falls and worked for The Commerce Loan Company.

December 26, 1951, Elaine and her high school sweetheart, Robert S. Olson, were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. The couple moved to Minneapolis to live while Bob was completing his degree at the University of Minnesota School of Mortuary Science. Uncle Sam intervened in December 1952, when Bob was called into the US Army to serve for two years. Elaine remained in Fergus Falls, spending time on the army base whenever it was allowed.

When Bob was discharged in December of 1954, Elaine and Bob, along with their 6-month-old daughter, Nancy, returned “home” and entered the work force. They moved into the funeral home on the corner of Court and Junius. The couple began a lifelong career as a main street business and a local family funeral service. After a few months, she realized that a license would be important, so she began her studies in January 1955 at the University of Minnesota School of Mortuary Science. Elaine received her Funeral Directors license in January 1957. She was proud to be the first woman to be licensed as a funeral director in the area. In 2017, Elaine received special recognition from the State Department of Health for being licensed in the funeral service for 60 years.

Elaine was active in many community and church activities. She sang in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church choir for many years. She also sang with the Schumann Club Sextette for many years in Fergus Falls and the surrounding communities. Bob and Elaine enjoyed many years singing duets for various occasions. Their motto was “Music is good therapy”. Elaine was an honorary member of the Noon Rotary Club and a proud Paul Harris Fellow.

Many hobbies occupied Elaine’s time: knitting, reading, hunting, leather art, traveling, singing, gardening, scrapbooking and camping. She also enjoyed spending time at their up north camp called Bucksnort and joining her husbands hobby as an amateur radio operator. Her call sign was N0LWW. Her family and friends will always remember her sense of humor.

Elaine continued to work with the funeral service until her retirement in 2017. After all these years, Elaine felt as if she had become a part of hundreds of families and had so much compassion and love for all those families.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Bob, on July 5, 2003; her parents; one brother, Morris; six sisters, Signe Bergerud, Evelyn Hanson, Gunda Sumstad, Olive Demmer, Myrtle Finkelson, and Hazel Claunch.

Survivors include her daughter, Rev. Dr. Nancy (Chris) Eldredge Hess, and two sons, Guy (Pam) Olson and Keith (Kim) Olson all of Fergus Falls. She has eleven grandchildren, Jonathan (Sonja) Hess, Melissa (Dan) Johnson, Robert (Megan) Olson ll, Ryan Olson, Stephanie (Jim) Gjere, Emily (Greg) Meyer, MacKenzie (Kris) Anderson, Brandon (Paris) Olson, Kathryn (Christopher) Hargett, Elizabeth (Benjamin) Eldredge Lester and John Eldredge. She enjoyed fifteen great-grandchildren, Soren Hess, Lucas, Reagan and Zoey Johnson, Madelynn and Molly Gjere, Claire, Quinn and Calvin Meyer, Knox, Cruz and Roux Anderson, Nora Olson, and Lark and Robin Eldredge Lester. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews. 

Please refer back to Elaine's tribute page for a recording of the service.

Visitation will be from 5 - 7 pm Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at the Olson Funeral Home and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.

Funeral service: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 18 at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Fergus Falls.

Clergy: Reverend Loren Mellum

Interment: Bethlehem Cemetery

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Bethlehem Cemetery Association

Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls.

Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com