Helen J. Olson

Helen J. Olson, 79, of Ulen, MN, died Tuesday, October 14, 2014, in the Viking Manor Nursing Home in Ulen, MN.

Helen Olson was born May 2, 1935 to Lester and Sallie White Sisley in Grandview, Indiana. She grew up and attended school in Grandview, graduating in 1954. Helen married Donald C. Olson in June of 1954. Following their marriage, they moved to Sutton, North Dakota, where they lived until 1960, when they moved to rural Hawley. In 1979 they sold their farm and moved to Moorhead, MN, where they resided until 2009.

In the early years of her marriage she sold Vanda Beauty Counselor and Sarah Coventry and also helped Don on the family farm. She also worked at Carlson’s Lefse Factory and later at Lefse Land and Carl’s Lefse in Hawley until 1972. Helen worked at American Crystal Sugar in Moorhead, MN, until her retirement in 1986. Later she began doing reflexology with Don out of their home until 2005, when they both retired.

Helen enjoyed going to the YMCA to swim, and WMSTR Reunion, where they worked the entire weekend doing various jobs. She was also active in the Ladies Auxiliary and volunteering at the VA Hospital with Don.

Helen was preceded in death by her brothers, John “Jay” Mary, William, Clarance, Norman, George and James “Jim” Sisley; and sister, Mary Jane White; and brother-in-law, Darwin Griepenstroh.

She is survived by her husband, Donald of Ulen, MN; sons, Lester Olson of Pittsburgh, PA, and Jeff Renea Olson of Hitterdal, MN; daughter, Ginger Jeff Dauner of Hawley, MN; six grandchildren, Kayli, Stephanie, KayCi, Amber, Ashley and Allison Joe Mozley; five great-grandchildren, Kalyb, Jason, Adrianna, Javahn and Gracie; sisters, Rose Rex Dawson, Alice Griepenstroh and Patsy Bob Bates; brother-in-law, Glen White; and sisters-in-law, Helen Sisley and Yvonne Sisley.

Visitation: Thursday, October 16, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Hawley, MN.
Funeral: Friday, October 17, at 10:30 a.m., in Hawley Alliance Church, Hawley, MN.
Interment: Solem Lutheran Church Cemetery, Hawley, MN.