Arnold Olson, 87, of
Battle
Lake
died Sunday, July 4, 2010, at
MeritCare
Hospital
in
Fargo
,
ND
.
Arnold Eugene Olson was born August 6, 1922, in
Battle
Lake
to Olaf and Jennie (Lilga) Olson.
He grew up on the farm in
Eagle
Lake
Township
and was baptized and confirmed at
Eagle
Lake
Lutheran
Church
.
He attended school at District 72 and graduated from
Battle
Lake
High School
in 1940.
Arnie served with the U.S. Army during WWII as a compressor operator.
He was discharged in 1945 and then attended Ag School in
Fergus
Falls
.
On June 30, 1951, Arnie married Arlene Johnson at
Nidaros
Lutheran
Church
, rural Clitherall.
They moved to Arnie’s farm in
Eagle
Lake
Township
where they lived until 1985 when they purchased a home by
Battle
Lake
.
Arnie grain farmed, raised beef cattle and chickens and sold eggs.
At one time they had 4500 laying hens.
He worked for Johnson’s Repair in
Fergus
Falls
, owned and operated Ashby Dairy Service and worked at Ashby Equity as parts manager along with running their dairy service.
He was also a sub mail carrier, later becoming a full time mail carrier in
Battle
Lake
from where he retired.
He was a member of
Eagle
Lake
Lutheran
Church
where he served on the church board and Faith Haven Board.
He also served on the Mendelson Egg Board and was a life time member of the VFW in
Battle
Lake
, now
Fergus
Falls
, member of the Pederson-Tripp American Legion of Ashby for 65 years and the Sons of Norway.
He enjoyed puzzles, playing cards and was an avid Minnesota Twins fan.
He collected aluminum pop tops for Ronald McDonald House and was known as the “candy man” for little kids because he always had candy for them. In the fall he was known as the “potato man”, gleaning the fields and giving potatoes away to area people. He was known for his integrity, kind heart, honesty, and family devotion.
He is survived by his wife, Arlene; daughter, Vicki (Bryan) Severson of Underwood; son, Jeff Olson of Battle Lake; four grandchildren, Jeremy (Jennifer) Severson of Bismarck, ND, Tyler Severson of Fergus Falls, Kyle Olson and Nicholas Olson both of Battle Lake; three great-grandchildren, Halle, Kaden and Jaxon Severson and a sister, Grace Norberg of Battle Lake.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Robert Olson and a sister, Ruth Bergsten.
