1918
Norma
2013
Norma Olson
September 24, 1918 — September 13, 2013
Funeral services for Norma Olson of Monticello, formally of Norcross, will be held Friday, September 20, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman. Reverend Tom Peterson and Reverend Lloyd Heroff will be officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Herman.
Norma Jane (Panowich) Olson was born in Winner, South Dakota on September 24, 1918 to Joseph and Amelia (Block) Panowich. She was baptized on October 29, 1937 in the Norcross Lutheran Church. Norma graduated from Traverse Country School. Following her schooling, she worked on the Rob Felix farm by Norcross, where she met Orvin O. Olson, her husband to be. The couple married on October 26, 1935 at the Lutheran Parsonage in Wheaton by Reverend H.K. Narum. Norma and Orvin then moved to Kalispell, Montana, where Orvin worked on a dairy farm. They returned to Norcross a year later, where they purchased the Felix farm, working side by side farming and raising their family. In later years, Norma also worked as a nurse's assistant at the Elbow Lake Hospital for five years. Norma and Orvin lived on the farm for the next 61 years, before moving into Herman in 1997. In 2002, they moved to St. Benedict's Assisted Living in Monticello. In June, 2013, Norma moved to Pam Jones Adult Foster Home in Monticello, where she resided until her death.
Norma had a very strong faith and knew Christ as her personal savior. She was an active member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Norcross until it closed in 2003. She then transferred to Bethel Lutheran in Herman. Through the years Norma taught Sunday school, serving as Superintendent and was active in the Ladies Aid, serving as President and other offices. Norma was active in the community, serving as Treasurer of the District 31 School Board. Norma thought there should be a camp fire girl's troop in the community, so she started one. She also enjoyed belonging to the Homemakers Club and the Norcross Study Club. She had many hobbies, including sewing, knitting, embroidery and gardening. She was known for her entries in the Women's building at the local county fairs, where she won many ribbons. Norma and Orvin enjoyed traveling and were fortunate to travel extensively in the United States and abroad and spent winters in Fort Myers, Florida.
Norma died on Friday, September 13, 2013 at Pam Jones Adult Foster Home in Monticello, MN, having lived to reach the age of 94 years, 11 months, 20 days.
She is survived by one son: Clyde (Joyce) Olson of Lake Way, TX; two daughters: Joycelyn (Luther) Thompson of Norcross and Colleen (Keith) Both of Lake Shore; ten grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; four sisters-in-law: Maria Panowich of West Warick, RI, Vione Olson of Fergus Falls, Kathy Adams of Fergus Falls and Astrid Olson of Kristiansand, Norway; many nieces and nephews and dear friend: Amanda Schmidt. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one sister: Evelyn McElwain; one brother: Harold Panowich; brothers-in-law: Gregs McElwain, Silas, Bert, Einar, Raymond, Warren and Clifford Olson, Ed Hamele, Don Trollier and Robert Cole; sisters-in-law: Amanda Hamele, Kristi Olson, Joan Trollier, Avis Cole and Jeanette Olson.
Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.
Norma Jane (Panowich) Olson was born in Winner, South Dakota on September 24, 1918 to Joseph and Amelia (Block) Panowich. She was baptized on October 29, 1937 in the Norcross Lutheran Church. Norma graduated from Traverse Country School. Following her schooling, she worked on the Rob Felix farm by Norcross, where she met Orvin O. Olson, her husband to be. The couple married on October 26, 1935 at the Lutheran Parsonage in Wheaton by Reverend H.K. Narum. Norma and Orvin then moved to Kalispell, Montana, where Orvin worked on a dairy farm. They returned to Norcross a year later, where they purchased the Felix farm, working side by side farming and raising their family. In later years, Norma also worked as a nurse's assistant at the Elbow Lake Hospital for five years. Norma and Orvin lived on the farm for the next 61 years, before moving into Herman in 1997. In 2002, they moved to St. Benedict's Assisted Living in Monticello. In June, 2013, Norma moved to Pam Jones Adult Foster Home in Monticello, where she resided until her death.
Norma had a very strong faith and knew Christ as her personal savior. She was an active member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Norcross until it closed in 2003. She then transferred to Bethel Lutheran in Herman. Through the years Norma taught Sunday school, serving as Superintendent and was active in the Ladies Aid, serving as President and other offices. Norma was active in the community, serving as Treasurer of the District 31 School Board. Norma thought there should be a camp fire girl's troop in the community, so she started one. She also enjoyed belonging to the Homemakers Club and the Norcross Study Club. She had many hobbies, including sewing, knitting, embroidery and gardening. She was known for her entries in the Women's building at the local county fairs, where she won many ribbons. Norma and Orvin enjoyed traveling and were fortunate to travel extensively in the United States and abroad and spent winters in Fort Myers, Florida.
Norma died on Friday, September 13, 2013 at Pam Jones Adult Foster Home in Monticello, MN, having lived to reach the age of 94 years, 11 months, 20 days.
She is survived by one son: Clyde (Joyce) Olson of Lake Way, TX; two daughters: Joycelyn (Luther) Thompson of Norcross and Colleen (Keith) Both of Lake Shore; ten grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; four sisters-in-law: Maria Panowich of West Warick, RI, Vione Olson of Fergus Falls, Kathy Adams of Fergus Falls and Astrid Olson of Kristiansand, Norway; many nieces and nephews and dear friend: Amanda Schmidt. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; one sister: Evelyn McElwain; one brother: Harold Panowich; brothers-in-law: Gregs McElwain, Silas, Bert, Einar, Raymond, Warren and Clifford Olson, Ed Hamele, Don Trollier and Robert Cole; sisters-in-law: Amanda Hamele, Kristi Olson, Joan Trollier, Avis Cole and Jeanette Olson.
Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.
Funeral Service
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Norma Olson, please visit our flower store.