Lyla M. Olson

Lyla M. Olson, 88, passed away on April 30, 2016, at Viking Manor Nursing Home in Ulen, MN.

Lyla was born on June 30, 1927. Lyla loved gardening, flowers, music, taking care of her children and pets, and was a loving grandmother and devoted sister to her own family members. Lyla graduated from Lake Park High School. She worked as a waitress locally and also in California. She worked at the lefse factory in Lake Park and also as an assistant to her husband at Paul Olson Well Drilling.
Her life did revolve around being active at Eksjo Lutheran Church, including the choir, teaching Sunday school and being a janitor for almost 35 years. It’s very hard to talk about Lyla without talking about Paul, married for almost 60 years before his passing on March 1, 2011. They volunteered at Rollag Steam Thresher’s for many years. Her responsibility was the Merry-Go-Round.

Even though Lyla’s life was based in Lake Park, she did get out of her zip code. Her travels with Paul were to Canada many times, Hawaii, Mexico, Las Vegas, Black Hills with the family, to Alaska with her sisters and brothers and even to Germany. Wherever her children were based, they made trips to see them- from San Francisco to Denver, to Billings, MT to Minneapolis, to Stone Harbor, NJ.

Many summers were spent with the Seydel relatives at Floyd Lake in Detroit Lakes. One fascinating thing to mention about Lyla is that she kept a diary, with perfect penmanship, for over 60 years. This has provided treasured memories for all.

Lyla was preceded in death by her husband Paul J. Olson; her father and mother, Fred and Louise Seydel; her brothers and sisters, Leona Koenig Sletmoen, Esther Atkinson, Sylvia Nearhoof, Luella Lindstrom, Elline Noben, Wilbert, Junior, Elroy and Archie Seydel.

She is survived by her brothers, Grant and Eugene Seydel; her children, Terry Vicki Olson, Jean Olson, Joan Scardino, and LaDon Curt Haugen; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, many relatives, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorial Gathering: one hour before services in the church.

Memorial Service: Saturday, May 21, 2016, 11:00 A.M., Eksjo Lutheran Church, rural Lake Park, MN, followed by a graveside burial and luncheon.

Memorial contributions in her name can be made to the Angel Food Network, Eksjo Church, P.O. Box 327, Lake Park, MN 56554.

What Paul loved so much about Lyla was her smile. It will be missed by all. But for now, they are riding in a Kubota in the sky.