Elling Olson

Elling Olson, age 97, of Fosston, MN, passed away on Wednesday (December 2nd) at Midway Care Center in Fosston. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday (December 7th) at Bethel Assembly Church in Fosston with Pastors John Marx and Tim Carlton officiating. Interment will be in Queen Cemetery, rural Fosston. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Sunday (December 6th) at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com.Elling Olson was born on February 26, 1912 in Fosston, Minnesota to parents Lewis and Manda (Knutson) Olson. He grew up in Brandsvold Township and attended rural school at the Cloverdale School. For most of his life he lived on the family farm in Brandsvold Township, homesteaded by his grandparents Jacob and Martha Olson after they immigrated from Norway. When Prairie Pines Assisted Living opened their doors in December of 2004 Elling was one of their first residents. He moved into Midway Care Center in November of 2007. He was united in marriage to Judith Mickelson on October 31, 1934. Together they raised their family and farmed in Brandsvold Township. Elling also had been employed at the HLH Potato Plant in Fosston and did various construction work in the area. In his later years Elling enjoyed all the activities involved with harvest. Elling loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren, whenever they visited Grandpa Elling always had a huge smile and outstretched hand. During their retirement years, Elling and Judith spent their winters in the south and enjoyed traveling together for many years.  One winter when they were in their sixties they traveled from Minnesota, to Florida, across to California, north to Washington state and home again to Minnesota.  When Elling was 73, he and Judith drove to Alaska with three of their grandchildren.  The grandchildren still have stories to tell about their trip! Elling and Judith were blessed to have celebrated their 74th anniversary  in 2008. Judith passed away in January of 2009. Elling faithfully attended Bethel Assembly Church in Fosston. He passed away on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at Midway Care Center in Fosston at the age of 97 years. Survivors include his sons, James of St. Cloud, MN, Dennis (Judy) of Fisher, MN, David (Kathy) of Fosston, Philip (Jean) of Fosston, Eldon of Rush City, MN, Merlin (Pam) of Lengby, MN, and Daniel (Darnell) of Moorhead, MN; 24 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren; and three great great grandchildren; two sisters, Inga Hanson of Fosston and Alice Edie of Bloomington, MN; sisters-in-law, Grace Olson of Minneapolis, MN, Martha Roue of Fosston and Esther Dearborn of Washington state. Nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. He was preceded in death by his wife; son, Ron in 2008; his parents; brother, Kenneth; brothers-in-law, Eddie Hanson and Mel Edie; and daughters-in-law, Lois and Loretta. Pallbearers will be grandsons-Doug Olson, Keith Olson, Craig Olson, Harlan Olson, Wayne Olson, Mike Olson, Scott Olson, Jeff Olson, Aaron Olson, Eric Olson, and Jeffrey Olson.