Idella Olson

Idella Olson, age 85, of Fosston, MN, passed away Saturday, August 19, 2017 at the Essentia Health Living Center in Fosston. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2017, at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. Paul Maglessen officiating. Interment of cremains will be in the Kingo Lutheran Church Cemetery, Fosston. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin Funeral Home of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinfuneral.com.Idella Kathleen Olson was born March 1, 1932 to John and Ida (Hanson) Rotness in a log cabin built by her father east of Fosston, Minnesota. Idella attended Pine Hill School with her brothers and sisters, and Fosston High School, graduating at age 16 in 1948. She later attended Aaker's Business College in Grand Forks.Idella worked at Eide Home Sales in Grand Forks, Dahl's Bakery in Fosston and at the Cozy Cafe in Fosston where she met Truman. They were married in December, 1965 and lived in Shevlin, Minnesota with their son, Quinn, who was born in 1967. Truman died in 1972 and the following year, Idella and Quinn moved to Fosston.Idella dearly loved nature, listening to birds, feeding the squirrels and gardening. She was much happier working in the garden or walking in the woods than doing anything inside. She was never without her bird book and could identify almost any bird by its call. Idella never had a cross word to say about anyone and was always willing to help out however she could. Friends, family and strangers alike would always be greeted with a hot cup of coffee and a word or two in Norwegian when stopping to visit. Idella served on many committees and groups volunteering in church, school and community activities. For years, she was the long-standing vacation bible school cookie and Kool-aid lady at Hope Church.Idella is survived by her son, Quinn Olson, stepdaughter, Judy (Bill) Walker of Harwood, ND, stepgrandson, Ben (Kristen) Duckstad of Warren, MN, sisters Delores Dyrdahl of Erskine, Jean Jacobsen of Moorhead, and Geraldine (Ralph) Hove of Fosston, sisters-in-law Hatsue Rotness of Seattle, Washington and Ellen Rotness of Chadron, Nebraska, and many nieces and nephews.Idella was preceded in death by her husband, Truman, stepson, Larry Olson, parents, John and Ida Rotness, brothers Kenneth, Ivan, Harlan, and Donald, sister Helen, sisters-in-law Eunice, and Ardis, and brothers-in-law Russell Dyrdahl and Les Jacobsen.The family suggests remembering Idella by wearing denim and bringing garden vegetables to share with friends at the church after the service.Blessed be her memory.