Donald LeRoy Olson, the son of Leonard and Olivia (Garfue) Olson was born on July 19^th, 1927 on the family farm Northeast of Devils Lake, North Dakota.  He died at the age of 89 years on Saturday, November 5^th, 2016 with his family by his side at the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby, North Dakota.

Donald grew up on the family farm and was educated in a rural school.  He loved to tell stories of the fun he had growing up with his siblings; one story was how in the winter they would strap on their skates and skate across Sweetwater Lake to get to school.  His family moved from Devils Lake to a farm in Minnesota and while there, Don worked various jobs.  The family decided to move back to Devils Lake and Don worked with his dad at Piper Lumber Yard.  He also worked for Mercy Hospital in maintenance for a while.

In December of 1949, Donald enlisted with the National Guard in Devils Lake and was in the 164^th Infantry Regiment.  In January of 1950, the national guard was activated due to the Korean War, so Don was sent to Camp Rucker in Alabama for training.  In September, the troops were sent to Fort Lewis in Washington to complete their training, three weeks after, they were bound for Korea.  Don was in Korea for 11 months and 10 days.  He returned stateside in August of 1952 and was honorably discharged as a T-Sargent in December 1954.  He was awarded a purple heart and a marksmen ship award.

Donald was united in marriage to Marjorie Wentz on September 9, 1952 in Devils Lake.  The couple lived in several different towns/areas throughout their marriage and had nine children.  Don worked in copper mines in Montana, the tire department at Montgomery Wards in Devils Lake, a hired hand in York, grain and dairy farmer in Wolford, drove milk truck for Winger Cheese in Towner.  In 1971, the couple bought and made their home on a farm near Balta, North Dakota and started milking cows and grain farming.  They lived there until the fall of 2010, when they moved into Rugby.  Don loved to go hunting and fishing and had a great love for all animals and named them all!  He was one of those people who would do and did anything for anyone and everyone.  His smile was warming and he had the heart to go along with it, a wonderful man.  He loved being with his family and anyone and everyone he was around.  He would joke and love to talk and share with all.  Donald was a soft hearted, kind man, who would shed tears over happy and sad times.  He served on the church board for the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Balta for many years; an Eagle’s member in Harvey and a member of the American Legion in York.

Donald is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Rugby; daughters, Luann (Timothy) Johnson of Rugby, Connie (Terry) Grove of Rugby, Judy Muffenbier of Jamestown, Cheryl Goldade (Allan Hager) of Anamoose; sons, James (Donna) Olson of West Fargo and Ron (Marcy) Olson of Hazen; grandchildren, David Muffenbier; Kirk, Dusten and Darrick Johnson; Tara Schilke, Lyndsey Graner, Carrie Grove, Justin Olson, Shannon Brown, Ross Olson, Roxanne Cartwright, Danielle Trip, Dana Fitzgerald, Travis and Dawn Nelson; 27 Great Grandchildren; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by daughters, Donna Nelson, Carol and Karen Olson; grandsons, Daysun Gross and Sean Muffenbier; a brother, Milton; sisters, Delores Skadsen, Lenora Sollin and Patrica Christenson; and his parents.

Military Honors Accorded by: The Clarence Larson American Legion Post #23 Honor & Color Guard of Rugby, ND and The North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Detail

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 11^th at the Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby with burial with military honors in the Church Cemetery.  Father T.T. Paulraj, Celebrant and Msgr. Joseph Senger, Concelebrant.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday with a vigil prayer service and sharing of memories beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Anderson Funeral Home, Rugby.  Visitation will continue Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the funeral home.  There will be no reviewal in the church.