Effie Olson

Effie E. (Mrs. Bill) Olson, 99, a resident of Underwood since 1949, died Thursday, January 20, 2011, at Sanford Health in Fargo. She was born November 15, 1911, in Leaf Mountain Township of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, the daughter of Olaf and Tekla (Holmgren) Pederson. She was baptized and confirmed in Leaf Mountain Lutheran Church. Effie graduated Advanced in 1931 from N.W.S.A. in Crookston, and the High School Teacher Training Department in 1932. She taught rural schools in the Clitherall area. She attended summer sessions at Moorhead State College and received a two year Standard in 1946. She graduated with a B.S. Degree in Education in 1962. She lacked only eight credit hours for a Masters Degree when she retired in 1977. Effie spent 35 years as an Elementary and Special Education teacher in Otter Tail County schools. On July 14, 1942, she married W. E. "Bill" Olson at St. Luke's United Church in San Antonio, Texas. Bill died March 8, 1989, in Underwood. She was a member of Sverdrup Lutheran Church in Underwood where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School in the 50's. She enjoyed traveling, and she had visited all 48 contiguous states, Washington DC, the Canadian cities of Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Winnipeg, and also Nogales, Mexico, the Bahamas, Norway and Sweden. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Bill; sister Hilma Olson, and brothers Everett, Oscar and Ervin Pederson. Survivors include her daughter, Susan Olson of Moorhead; and nieces Bonnie Robertson of Tucson, AZ, and Jane Kruize of Ashby. Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the funeral home Service: 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 24, 2011, at Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls Clergy: Pastor Mark Johnson Interment: Sverdrup Lutheran Cemetery, Underwood, MN Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls