Olga Bengtson

Olga LaVerne Bengtson, 83, formerly of Erhard, died at the Good Samaritan Home in Pelican Rapids on Monday, May 31, 2010.  She was born March 21, 1927, in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, the daughter of Swen and Olga (Opsahl) Swenson. She was baptized and confirmed at Bagstevold Lutheran Church in Erhard, Minnesota. She was a lifetime member of Bagstevold Lutheran Church, now Grace Lutheran Church. In 1944 she married Newman Erickson at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. To this union a son, Garry, was born. Newman was a casualty of World War II on February 28, 1945. In 1947 she married Arnold Bengtson at the Ringsaker Parsonage in Pelican Rapids. They had 61 years together until Arnold’s death in February of 2009. Olga was a devoted mother to her family and her husband, Arnold. They lived near Erhard for 59 years, moving to Fergus Falls in 2006. She worked in the Erhard State Bank, and at the Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center, from which she retired in 1980. During her retirement she enjoyed traveling and wintering in Llano, Texas, listening and dancing to old time music, fishing, gardening, canning, crocheting, and doing hardanger while watching the Minnesota Twins on television. Preceding her in death were her parents, Swen and Olga Swenson; her husbands, Newman Erickson and Arnold Bengtson; her sister, Olena (Kenneth) Monson; and her brothers, Carl (Gladys) Swenson and Selvin Swenson. Survivors include a son, Garry (Linda) Erickson of Lake Park, MN, and a daughter, Shirley Strand of Baker, MT; three grandchildren: Cory (Stacy) Erickson of Burnsville, MN, Cara Sullivan of West Fargo, ND, and Tyler Strand of Dickinson, ND; brothers-in-law, Llewellyn (Laverne) Bengtson of Fargo, ND, and Merlin (Darlene) Bengtson of Erhard, MN; sisters-in-law: Delores (Marvin) Pederson of Fergus Falls, MN, and Lavonne (Norris) Gilbertson of Ashby, MN; nine great-grandchildren: Paige Erickson, Audrey Erickson, Hailey Erickson, Zane Erickson, Alec Erickson, Abigail Erickson, Ellie Erickson, Shelby Sullivan, and Logan Strand; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the church Service: 11 a.m. Friday, June 4, 2010, at Grace Lutheran Church in Erhard, MN Clergy: Reverend Brad Soenksen Interment: Bagstevold Cemetery near Erhard, MN Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls