Earl Douglas Olson, 84, of Rush City, MN died October 21, 2008 at home.
He was born on November 14, 1923 to Kristine Petronell (Sjodin) and Peter John Olson in Holmes
City, Minnesota. He attended grade schools in Holmes City, Glenwood and Alexandria. His
high school years were in Alexandria and he graduated from there in 1941. He participated in choir, baseball,
gymnastics, school plays and football. He worked at the local drug store and drove cab.
He grew up with two sisters and five brothers.
Earl joined the Canadian Army in 1941 and the US Army in 1943.
Earl worked as a refrigeration installer in Detroit and Alexandria.
He moved to Rush City in 1951 and started E&E Refrigeration with his brother, Eddie. Earl continued
to operate that business until 1985. He developed integrated heat recovery refrigeration systems for supermarkets.
Earl owned and operated local restaurants, the Kopper Kettle and the
Raven’s Nest in Rush City from 1953 to 1962.
Other
business endeavors that Earl pursued were United Sprinkler fire protection, Market Engineers, Inc., Advanced Metal Designs,
Inc. and Neo Tech, Inc.
Earl married Ilene Anderson in 1959.
They enjoyed traveling to the Colorado cabin, New Zealand, California, Mexico and entertaining together.
Earl also enjoyed the computer, gardening and woodworking. He was a member of First Evangelical
Lutheran Church, Rush City.
Earl is survived by wife, Ilene, their
children Jillene (Kevin), Donna (Terry), grandchildren Angela and Stephen Kay, and Elizabeth Bolejack. Children
from a previous marriage Larry, Linda, Connie, Deborah, grandchildren Nancy, Tracy, Trevor, Sarah, Kelly, Rory, Will, Nellie,
and great-grandchildren.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents,
Kristine and Peter, sisters Ellen and Elsie (Emil), brothers Enyard (Vickie), Ellis (Ida), Eaton (Maxine), Elphin (Edie),
Edward (Anne).
Reverend Laurie O’Shea will officiate
a memorial service on Friday, October 24, 2008 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rush City. Music
was provided by Pastor O’Shea and Jade Kristofferson. Internment was in First Evangelical Lutheran
Church Cemetery at Rush City, MN.
