Sigurd R. Olson

A Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday (tomorrow) September 24, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. at the Devils Lake Cemetery with Reverend Lori Pankratz officiating.

Remembering the life of 

Sigurd R. Olson Life-long Oberon area resident and farmer, Sigurd Olson, Jr., passed away Sept 18, 2025 - 2 days from his 92nd birthday. He had been a resident of Eventide Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake, for the past 2 years.

Born on September 20, 1933, Sigurd was the first of two sons of Sigurd and Johanna (Rise) Olson, Lallie Twp. Raised on the family homestead, Sigurd and his brother Glenn quickly learned the lessons of early rising, early to bed, and numerous chores. As was often the custom, only Norwegian was spoken in the home, so they knew little English early on. The brothers attended nearby Lakeview country school, both finishing 8th grade. At home they helped to raise crops, hay, cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens and were active in 4H for many years. By the time they were teenagers, they largely ran the farm due to their father's partial disability. When Sigurd was 24, he and Glenn took over full operation of the farm. In 1958, Glenn ran it solo while Sigurd left for the Army. Completing basic training in Colorado Springs, he was then stationed in peace-time Germany for two years until he returned home in 1960 to take over for Glenn. Glenn moved on, with his growing family, to work in the oil patch during the '60's oil boom. Sigurd farmed for the next nearly 40 years, retiring in 1998 and remaining on the farm for 25 more years until moving into Devils Lake. He served on several local boards, including township board for several decades. The Olsons were members St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Sigurd and Glenn were confirmed in 1952. Sigurd was a wonderful, generous uncle and we will miss him dearly. We enjoyed his company as much as he did ours. As children, our noisy, boisterous, energetic ways moved him to affectionately dub us "The Destruction Crew". He is lovingly remembered by his nieces, Rebecca (Bruce) Willams of Billings, MT and Victoria Rice of Spokane, WA; nephews, Steve Olson of Glendive, MT and Jerry Olson of Louisville, CO; great-niece, Jennifer Kastner of Gillette, WY; and great-nephews, Francisco "Kiko" Lopez of Rapid City, SD and Andy Kastner of Aurora, CO.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Glenn and Lorraine Olson; niece, Sandra Lopez, and two great-nieces, Rikki Kastner and Crystal Boysun.