Hazel Olson

Funeral services for Hazel Olson, age 93, of Morris, formerly of Chokio, Minnesota, will be on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chokio.  Reverend Erik Rundquist will be officiating.  A visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the church and burial will be at Chokio Lutheran Cemetery, rural Chokio.

Hazel Evelyn Banister was the second child born to Roy and Josie (Jensen) Banister at their farm in Scott Township on February 20, 1928. She attended school district #4 & 5 in Stevens County through the 8th grade. After her schooling, she stayed home to help take care of her 6 siblings.  Later, Hazel began her career working at the Chokio Café.  It was while working, she met, Russell Olson, the two where married in Chokio on September 13, 1947.  They made their home in Chokio where they worked for several farmers and raised their three children. In 1967, they moved into Chokio and Hazel worked at the Chokio Café – the café was sold different times throughout her employment, and she always continued on with the new owners and she loved every minute of it!  Hazel also helped to clean Our Savior’s Lutheran church and did housecleaning for people in the area.  She was always busy and never complained!  Hazel was truly a jack of all trades!  Russell preceded Hazel in death in 1988; she continued to live in Chokio and to stay busy with her work until 2014, when she made the move to Morris and became a resident of West Wind Village.

Hazel loved going to the Chokio Senior Center and participating on the Horseshoe League where lots of laughs were shared!  She was a great cook and baker, and everything from scratch – no recipe was needed, “just taste and stir until it’s ready”  She was well known for her Vegetable Beef Soup she would make for the annual church bazaar and the hundreds of lefse she would make for whoever wanted some. Hazel was a devoted Minnesota Twins fan – win or lose!  While living at West Wind Village, everyone knew if you wanted to know the score of the game, you would just have to go and ask Hazel.  She also enjoyed playing bingo and cards.

Hazel died on Friday, June 18, 2021 at the West Wind Village in Morris, she was 93 years old.

Hazel is survived by her daughters: Nancy (Harvey) Gillespie of Chokio, Rusty Marquart of Hancock; daughter-in-law, Nancy Olson of Slayton; grandchildren: Wayne (Connie) Gillespie, Tammy (Henry) Goette, Wendy Sanasack, Shelli (Mark) Becker, Jason (Abrah) Olson, Cory (Tammy) Marquart, and Kirby (Ashley) Marquart; great-grandchildren: Jordan, Megan and Dylan, Amy, Eric, Delia, Bryana, Jerome, Kortney, Sabrina, Malia, Ethan, Garrett, Courtney, Jaedyn, Josie and Major; great-great-grandchildren: Haiden, Connor, Carson and Hudson; sisters: Vivian Bjorlin of Chokio, and Jeanette (Verdi) Schmitz of Chokio; and many nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Russell; son, Clifford; son-in-law, Gary Marquart; sisters: Grace (Earl) Steuck and Verna (William) Nilson; brothers: Donald (Julette) Banister and Vernon Banister; brother-in-law, Kenneth (Doris) Olson and Calvin Bjorlin; and great-great-grandson, Hank William.

Pedersen Funeral Home is in care of arrangements for Hazel.