Kenneth Olson

Minot and longtime Bur-

lington area farmer, died

Friday, January 3, 2020 at

his home from an ap-

parent heart attack.

Kenneth Russell Olson

was born on August 22,

1931 in Minot to Bennie

and Esther (Rustad) Ol-

son. He was raised in

Minot, graduated from

Minot High School in

1949 and attended North

Dakota State School of

Science and Minot State

University for a short

time. Kenny was a proud

member of the 1949 ND

Class A state champion-

ship basketball team. As a

young adult, he complet-

ed basic training for the

U.S. Army just prior to

the end of the Korean

Conflict so he was

discharged. Also, he was

employed by the Great

Northern Railroad for a

few years.

Kenny married Esther

Werre on July 6, 1957 at

First Presbyterian Church

in Minot.

They made their home

in Minot. Kenny farmed

in the Trestle Valley area

of Burlington Township of

Ward County. He raised

small grains, sunflowers

and canola. He never fully

retired from farming be-

cause he could be found

at the farm on an almost

daily basis “checking” on

things. Esther died No-

vember 7, 2011. Kenny

had continued to reside in

Minot, but spent the

winter months in Mesa

AZ.

Kenny was a longtime

member of Cornerstone

Presbyterian Church,

Minot, as well as the Ea-

gles Aerie, Elks Lodge and

American Legion organi-

zation. He was an avid

bowler and played a lot of

pool and horseshoes. He

also enjoyed golfing and

fishing and was a fan of

the Vikings, Twins, MSU

athletic teams and Patsy

Cline vocal selections.

Kenny’s loving family

includes: his son, Glen

(Amanda) Olson of Minot;

daughter-in-law, Janelle

Olson of Mesa, AZ;

grandchildren, Taylor,

Austin, Teague and Pres-

ton Olson; brother, Gor-

don (Helen) Olson of San

Clemente, CA;

sisters-in-law, Lillian Ol-

son of Minot and Phyllis

Olson of Brookings, SD;

brother-in-law, Al (Janet)

Werre of Cape Cod, MA;

and numerous nieces,

nephews and cousins.

Kenny was preceded in

death by: his parents;

wife; son Jerry; and si-

blings Eldrice Van Sickle,

Burnett Guthrie, Vernon,

Arthur (Nola), Harlan,

Richard (Luella) and

Curtis Olson.

Celebration of the Life

of Kenneth Olson: Thurs-

day, January 9, 2020 at

11:00 a.m. in Cornerstone

Presbyterian Church,

Minot.

Interment: Rosehill

Memorial Park, Minot.

Visitation: Wednesday

from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00

p.m. in Thomas Family

Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred

to Cornerstone Presbyteri-an Church or to the

donor’s choice.

Memories and con-

dolences may be shared at

www.thomasfamily

funeralhome.com.