Ronnie Duane Olson

Ronnie Olson of Rock Creek passed away Sunday, February 3, 2019 at Ecumen of North Branch at the age of 80.

Ronnie Duane Olson was born March 29, 1938 in Rushseba Township. He was the youngest of nine children born to William and Jennie Olson. He grew up on a farm east of Rock Creek, attended grade school at the Rock Creek School House and two years at Pine City. Ron and his siblings had a special bond and truly enjoyed each other’s company. After Bill and Jennie passed, they would meet at the Kaffe Stuga in Harris to celebrate each of their birthdays together. In addition, they would randomly meet for lunch in Rock Creek.

On February 4, 1961, Ronnie married Janice Tibbetts at the First Lutheran Church in Rush City. He was working at McDonald’s Distributing at the time. They were married 58 years.

In 1967, Ron was hired by P.I.E. as a truck driver. For two years, Ron was a road driver on a sleeper team. He was with P.I.E. for 25 years and then with Roadway for 5 years. He retired from truck driving after 30 years on September 23, 1996. Upon retiring, Ron received a safe driver award for over two million miles driven without an accident or a citation. He was proud of that accomplishment.

After retiring, Ron and Jan sold most everything they owned and moved into their motor home. For 22 years, they traveled to 43 states and met many new friends. They worked during their retirement as “work campers” in a variety of RV Parks, including Adventureland Amusement Park in Des Moines, Iowa for 7 summers. They even worked for an Amazon warehouse in Kansas City for a few weeks during the Christmas shopping season. They settled year-round in Tyler, Texas for the last 3 years, prior to moving back to Minnesota in 2016 when health problems brought them back home.

Country music was a big part of Ron’s life. He played guitar and sang in a band called "Bend in the Road" in his early 20’s in the Rush City area. In retirement, he and other musicians traveled around to RV parks in the area playing gigs. He even wrote a song about Rock Creek. He visited Nashville on vacation a few times to see the Grand Ole Opry and was a fan of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard. He wore cowboy boots his whole adult life until well into his retirement when he finally agreed to put on a pair of tennis shoes.

Ronnie had a patient and kind heart, a big smile and he loved to tell stories. Making someone laugh brought him great joy. He was known to say (from time to time), “You do the best you can, and move on”. This seems to have been the motto he lived by. He was proud to say he was born and raised in Rock Creek and of his Swedish heritage. He loved BIG and wasn’t afraid to show it.

Ronnie and Jan have three children, daughter Sue (Chuck) Losinski and their son, Tyler; daughter Sandie Osterhus (fiancé Chad Foos), son Dylan Osterhus and grandson, Jaxon Osterhus; son Steve (Gwyn) Olson and their daughters Jade Mikkelson and Alie Mikkelson and grandsons Noah and Lincoln Brenneman; 35 nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law Gladys Olson, Sharon Olson both of Rush City, Laurel (Joe) Newsome of NC., Lois (Myron) Larson of East Grand Forks, MN., Becky Schlegel of Faribault; brothers-in-law Rodney (Kathy) Tibbetts of Hawley and David (Susie) Tibbetts of Gilbert.

He is preceded in death by his parents William and Jennie Olson; brothers Dale (Shirley), Kenny (Delores), Harold, Chucky (Elaine), Clifford (Arlene) Olson; sister LaDez (Bernard) Pangerl; infant brothers Gordon and Gerald; father-in-law and mother-in-law Alvah "Ted" and Evelyn Tibbetts; brothers-in-law Ivan Tibbetts and John Tibbetts.

A Celebration of Life for Ronnie Olson is scheduled for: 2:00 PM; Saturday, (2/23/19) at the Rock Creek City Center in Rock Creek. A gathering of family and friends is planned from 5-7 PM; Friday, (2/22/19) at the Olson Funeral Chapel in Rush City and also one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

A spring interment will take place in the Rock Creek Cemetery in Rock Creek.

Ronnie’s family believes he would like memorials directed to the Rock Creek Lions.

Arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Chapel www.FuneralAndCremationService.com