Melba Jean Olson

Melba Jean Olson, 75, Minot, and formerly of Velva, died suddenly on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in her home.

Melba was born July 17, 1939, in Rugby, to Leonard and Violet (Olsen) Brandt. She was reared in Benedict, Minot and Tacoma, Wash., for the first few years of her life before the family moved to a farm in Layton Township of McHenry County near Upham in 1945. She attended Layton Consolidated School through the eighth grade, graduated from Upham High School in 1957 and received her standard teaching certificate from Minot State Teachers College.

While attending MSTC she was employed at Oppen’s 83 and Third Street Super Valu grocery stores. Following her college education her first teaching position was in Mohall.

Melba married Carl Olson May 28, 1961, in Upham. They made their home in Velva where they raised their four children and she was employed at the Velva Elementary School as the first grade teacher for two and one-half years. After all of her children were in school she returned to Minot State University and obtained her bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an endorsement in kindergarten. Prior to her retirement in 2004 she taught at Karlsruhe, Sawyer and Velva elementary schools. Carl died Aug. 7, 2008. Melba had continued to make her home in Velva prior to moving to Minot in 2012.

Melba was a member of Oak Valley Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school for several years and was the Sunday school superintendent. She had been attending Zion Lutheran Church since she moved to Minot. She was a former member of the Early Bird Homemakers, NDEA and Mrs. Jaycees.

Melba had many interests, which included traveling, cooking, baking, reading and attending the activities of her grandchildren. She had a gift for decorating and especially enjoyed hosting holiday gatherings for her family. She loved her family and loved being a wife, mother, grandmother and educator. She expressed that caring for her children was the most rewarding experience of her life. She loved every minute of her teaching career and continued to get cards and letters from many of her former students.

Melba’s loving family includes: her children, Melonie (Dean) Weidler, of Velva, Troy (Lauri) Olson, of Cooperstown, Allison (Paul) Germolus, of Bismarck, and Darin (Kimberly) Olson, of Estherville, Iowa; grandchildren, Lindsay, Brendan, Jordan, Hannah, Taylor, Jaci, Noah, Benjamin, Isaiah, Elizabeth, Jacob, Emilee and Erika; great-grandchildren, Neylin, Hayes and Blakely; sisters, Gayle (David) Lawson, of Minot, and Colleen (Morris Jr.) Holen, of Bottineau; brothers, Larry (Theresa) Brandt, of Surprise, Ariz., Lyle (Sharon) Brandt, of Fargo, Leslie (Judy) Brandt, of West Fargo, and Danny (Jean) Brandt, of Kramer; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Melba was preceded in death by: her parents; husband; and numerous aunts and uncles.

Celebration of the Life of Melba Olson: 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19, in Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva.

Interment will be: in the Velva Community Cemetery.

Visitation: 2 to 6 p.m. today, Thursday, in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot. There will be no reviewal at the church.

Memorials are preferred to the Velva Library, Dollars for Scholars, Zion and Oak Valley Sunday Schools, Boy Scouts or the Disabled American Veterans.

Those wanting to sign the online memorial register or share memories and condolences are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com.