Donald Olson

Donald Orlin Olson, 67,

of Dunseith, ND joined

his beloved mother in

Heaven on April 15, 2022.

Don was born on Sep-

tember 16, 1954, to Orlin

Lydell Olson and Lorraine

Metcalfe Somers in Rolla,

ND. Since his father was a

crane operator, he, along

with his mother and two

brothers, lived in

numerous places in North

Dakota and Minnesota, fi-

nally settling down in

Dunseith, ND in 1968,

where he attended Dun-

seith Junior High and

High Schools until his

graduation in 1972.

In addition to being an

Honor Student, Don was

an accomplished athlete

during his years attending

the Dunseith Junior High

and High Schools. He ex-

celled in football, basket-

ball, and baseball. He was

an integral part of the

1972 Dragon team that

took 5th place in the State

“B” basketball tournament

and the champion base-

ball team that same year.

He was also part of the

Dunseith Babe Ruth and

Legion baseball teams that

won many championships

over the years he played.

He was once teased that

he was too slow to play

college or professional

baseball and he respond-

ed by stating that, “You

don’t need to be fast when

you hit home runs!” He

earned a scholarship to

play football for the

University of North Dako-

ta and was a red-shirt

freshman on the team that

won the NCAA Division II

Championship in 1973.

He was humble about his

athletic abilities, as he

was about many other life

accomplishments.

Don married Colette

Casavant of Rolette, ND in

the Spring of 1973. He

managed Morgan Lumbar

Yard and Dales Truck

Stop in Dunseith, ND for

a few years and he and

Colette then moved to De-

vils Lake, ND where Don

worked for Bridgeman

Dairy and other com-

panies. He made

numerous life-long

friends along his delivery

routes. Don and Colette

later divorced after 13

years of marriage.

Don then made a career

change and entered col-

lege, first at NDSU Bot-

tineau and then at Minot

State University where he

earned a bachelor’s de-

gree. It was at Minot State

University where Don met

the love of his life, Linda.

He then earned a master’s

degree at North Dakota

State University. He was a

believer in education and

encouraged many to fol-

low their dreams and seek

higher education no

matter their age and no

matter their cir-

cumstances.

Don struggled with al-

coholism until 1991. He

maintained sobriety

through the date of his

death. Next to his chil-

dren and his marriage to

Linda on December 29,

2003, it was his greatest

accomplishment. Utilizing

his education and experi-

ence, he spent countless

hours counseling others

struggling with substance

addictions. He traveled to

schools and other public

forums throughout North

Dakota to tell his story

about the grace and

redemption of sobriety.

Don found and started

his dream job working at

the Dunseith Day School

in August 1992. He was

quickly bestowed the

nickname “Big Bear”, a

nickname he loved and

one that epitomized his

love and caring for the

children at the Dunseith

Day School. Working at

the Day School was his

life’s calling. He loved

working with his cowork-

ers but was especially

passionate about working

with the children. He

wanted to make a differ-

ence in the lives of the

children and by all ac-

counts, he did so. The

outpouring of concern

and love from the Dun-

seith Day School com-

munity upon news of

Don’s passing has been

overwhelming. Don’s fam-

ily is extremely grateful

and appreciative of all the

kind words and respect

afforded to Big Bear for

his work at the Dunseith

Day School.

Don is survived by his

wife, Linda Berdahl of

Minot, ND; sister-in-law

Gloria (Bill) Singleton of

Florida; “adopted” sisters

Cheri (James) Evans of

Dunseith, ND and Rose

Gottbreht of Barton, ND;

brothers Lyle (Lisa) Olson

of West Fargo, ND and Ro-

bin (Christina) Olson of

Walla Walla, WA; chil-

dren Corey (Stephanie)

Olson of Bottineau, ND,

Shane (Jennifer) Olson

soon to be of Dunseith,

ND, Alesha (Josh) Mola-

cek of Callaway, MN, and

Amanda Olson of Fargo,

ND; stepchildren

Stephanie (Charles Las-

siter) Baisch, Jennifer (

Guillermo) Martinez, and

Jason (Tori) Baisch, each

of Texas; nieces Rachel

(Jacob) Bly of Walla Wal-

la, WA and Taylor Olson

of Manchester, England

and Walla Walla, WA;

nephew Jesse Olson of

Walla Walla, WA;

grandchildren Brennen

(Crystal) Olson, Riley Ol-

son, Tyler Olson, Emily

(Eric) Buteau, Skylar

Spessard, Sydney Spes-

sard, Josiah Molacek, Ad-

dyx Olson, Isabelle Olson,

Bethany Rooney, Donovan

Hall, D’Sean Hall, McKay-

la (Charles Hall) Nichols,

Tristen Nichols, Kaci

(Cody Dahlinger) Nichols,

Susan (Mario) Zormora,

Braden White, Jacoby

White, Jaxson Baisch and

Noah Baisch; and

great-grandchildren An-

neliese Jean Olson, Zariah

Hall, Cai’ra Hall, Zayla Ni-

chols and Isabella Zor-

mora.

Don was preceded in

death by his father, Orlin

L. Olson; mother, Lorraine

Metcalfe Somers; and

stepfather, Joseph Somers.

Visitation for the gen-

eral public will be held on

Thursday, April 21, 2002,

from 3:00 pm until 7:00

pm, followed by a prayer

service at 7:00 pm at the

Nero Funeral Home in

Bottineau, ND. A private

funeral for family and re-

latives will be held on Fri-

day, April 22, 2022, at

11:00 am at the Nero Fun-

eral Home in Bottineau,

ND.