Edmund David Olson age 79 of Walnut Grove passed away on Sunday, May 7, 2017 at the Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 12, 2017 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at the church on Saturday. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Edmund David Olson was born October 3, 1938 to Leonard and Minnie (Lohrbach) Olson on the family farm northeast of Walnut Grove, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1956, served in the United States Army, and attended Golden Valley Bible College. He graduated with honors from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter in 1964 and attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota where he majored in entomology and botany while serving as interim Stat Extension Entomologist. He married Norma Irene Knutson of Silverton, Oregon in 1967. Following many years of teaching biology and pursing hobbies of farming, gardening and beekeeping in Wyoming, Minnesota, he retired to the farm where he was born.
Edmund was a lifelong scholar and teacher with an endless variety of interests. However, he had a special interest in grassland prairies and introduced the Nature Conservancy to some native areas, which were subsequently purchased. He was working to establish a native prairie habitat on his farm along Plum Creek. He served on the Chisago County Park and Trail Foundation and chaired his local park board for many years. An avid reader, he participated in “Tracy Reads” and belonged to the Tracy Library Book Club. He loved to reminisce about early days on the farm and enjoyed keeping family holiday traditions.
He is survived by his wife Norma; sons: David Erik of Davis, CA and Brian Louis (Erin) of Andover, MN; grandsons: Nicholas Paul Olson and Benjamin Brian Olson; brothers: Larry (Judy) of Hatfield, MA and Dale (Carol) of Belfry, MT and sister Bonnie Pomerenke of Lakefield, MN. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Everett, Robert and Galen and sisters: Grace Shattuck and Genevieve Minor.
Dear family, I would like to extend my condolences to you in this time of sorrow. And I hope that these promises from the Bible will give you true solace. Jehovah God is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. And he will wipe away the tears from all faces. Psalms 34:18; Isaiah 25:8 NWT. In the future, ( Matthew 5:5 ) people all over the earth will not suffer illness ever again. No resident will say: “I am sick.” Isaiah 33:24; Psalms 37:11, 29 NWT. May peace and happy memories of Mr. Olson continue to be with you.
As a lifelong friend of Norma, Ed, Brian, and David Olson, it is with the utmost sincerity and heartfelt prayers that I offer my deepest sympathy and condolences. Ed was a mentor and father figure to me in my formative years, and I truly consider the Olsons family. God’s Peace be with you.
Sharon and I are so sorry to hear of Edmond’s passing. We were at the last All-School Reunion and stopped at the farm to visit with all the Olsons and met Edmond and Norma at that time. Robert, Genevieve and Grace were also there and had nice visits with them prior to their passing.
Edmond had such a wide range of interests and projects. We would have enjoyed having him share the history of the farm and showing us the native prairie projects he had undertaken. His interests were similar to Burton Tellefsen, Sharon’s Uncle, now passed. Again, our deepest sympathies to the family.
Dennis and Sharon Rossing
San Antonio, TX.
Mr. Olson was my 7th grade science teacher at Southwest Jr. High School in Forest Lake, Minnesota in 1971. He was a nice man who really did enjoy what he taught. I have thought of him often over the years.
I’m sorry to learn of his passing.