Frances Olson

Mrs. Frances Olson of Rush City; died Monday (10/3/11) at the Cambridge Medical Center in Cambridge, MN at the age of 96 years. Frances was born April 17, 1915 to Frank and Emma (Valleen) Carlson in their rural Rush City home. She attended the Peers School through eighth grade and graduated from Rush City High School in 1932. She then lived on the home farm, cooking, gardening and housekeeping. In 1944, she started dating Donald Olson, a family friend who was working on the Carlson farm. Fran and Don were married June 16, 1946 at First Lutheran Church in Rush City. To this union three daughters were born. In 1948 Frances and Donald purchased a farm south of Rush City, where they farmed and resided for the rest of their lives. Fran was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church of Rush City, where she taught Sunday school and was an active member of the Lutheran Church Women. She was a longtime member of the Brickyard Women’s Club. She also served as a 4-H leader for many years. In her later years she was a founding and active member of the Rush City Garden Club. Fran and Don enjoyed traveling to visit relatives in other parts of the country. They also went to London and Hawaii, and made many winter trips to Florida. Fran loved gardening and spent many evening hours tending her flower and vegetable gardens. She especially loved growing roses. Frances is survived by her daughters: Karen (Leonard) Bennett of LaCrescent, Minnesota; Barbara Olson of Rockford, Illinois; and Marlys Olson of Rush City, Minnesota; grandchildren Erica Bennett of Minneapolis; Kristin (Trevor) Boettcher of Houston, Minnesota; and Mark (fiancée Amanda Myhre) Bennett of Caledonia, Minnesota; and great-granddaughter Madelyn Victoria Boettcher; nephews John (Linda) Carlson of Stanchfield, Minnesota, Mark (Jane) Carlson of Pine City, Minnesota, and Bruce (Barb) Carlson of Rush City, Minnesota. Frances is preceded in death by her parents Frank & Emma Carlson, Husband Don Olson, Sister Irma (Walter) Nelson and her brother Amos (Orpha) Carlson. Rev. Laurie O’Shea will officiate at funeral services; 10:30 a.m. Friday (10/7/11) at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rush City with a time of visitation and reviewal Thursday evening from 5-8 p.m. at the Olson Chapel in Rush City and one hour prior to the funeral at church on Friday. The interment will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Funeral arrangements for Frances Olson (Mrs. Don Olson) of Rush City are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City; Olson Chapel.