Earl M Olson

Earl M. Olson was born in Devils Lake ND on June 20^th, 1939, to Alfton and Luella (Johnson) Olson. He passed away on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND surrounded by his family.

A Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday, May 16th, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a time of Prayer and Remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at Bethel Evangelical Free Church, Devils Lake on Wednesday, May 17th one hour prior to the funeral service at 11:00 am. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. 

Earl was an alumnus of Devils Lake Central High School, where he played football. He continued his education by attending the Adult Ag Management Classes at Lake Region College.

Earl started farming as a teenager and continued his whole life. The farmstead is within three miles of those of his parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and great great grandparents.

Earl married the love of his life Jo Eisele in Wolf Point, Montana on November 22, 1961, where she was teaching. Earl was recruited to help correct papers until spring when they returned to Devis Lake where they started their sixty plus years of farming together. Along with crops and animals they raised three children Lonnie, Jeff, and Tammy. He was very active and at one time owned an implement business and a recreational vehicle business. 

Earl volunteered many years with the Devils Lake Rural Fire Department and served many years on the South Minnewaukan Township Board and the Zoning and Planning Board. He was chairman of all these boards at one time or another for many years. He was also proud to point out that his great grandfather was a founding member of Bethel Evangelical Free Church.

Earl loved spending time with his family. He never missed attending an activity for his kids and grandkids. You could always find him in the stands at the ball diamond, hockey rink, or music concerts. Earl loved hunting and fishing with his friends and family. Earl was a great steward of the land he was blessed to farm. When he could he enjoyed taking time for fun. When he was younger he loved taking his family hunting and fishing. He so treasured the special anniversary trips to Hawaii, Alaska and Branson, Missouri and the many, many vacations to Medora.

Earl was known for his quick wit and affectionate teasing. Everyone knew that the door was open, and coffee was always on. He enjoyed a great conversation, a card game, and loved to talk about the good old days. He had a very special personal connection with all. He always parted with “don’t take any wooden nickels.”

Earl is survived by his wife Jo of 61 ½ years; sons Lonnie (Donna) Olson, Jeff (Sue) Olson and daughter Tammy (Lance) Riggin all of Devils Lake; grandchildren Jamie (Lee) Schwan, Breanna (Jeff) Curtis, Chris (Kristina) Olson, James Olson, Michael Olson, Hunter Riggin, Nash Riggin, Harper Riggin and step grandson Brady (Robyn) Riggin; great grandchildren Declan and Gemma Schwan, Theo, Lincoln, Calvin and Madison Curtis, Mya and Elena Olson, Aurelie, Jake and Rhett Riggin and two more to come before the end of the year; brothers Marlo (Margene) Olson, Seattle WA, Glenn (Rita) Olson and sister Lola (Don) Schlieve all of Devils Lake; sisters-in-law Eileen Burt, Lake Oswego OR, Mary Ann MacDonald, Devils Lake, Hattie (Dave) MacDonald also Lake Oswego and Betty Goeser, Devils Lake; special friends Gib and Polly Kjelden and hunting partners Jamie and Rick Jack; many nieces, nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alf and Luella, brother Duane (Jan) Olson, brothers-in-law Owen Goeser and Darrel Burt and father-in-law and mother-in-law John and Regina Eisele.