Betty Olson

Betty Lou Olson was born on March 16th, 1928 to Robert and Leona (Kadolph) Illg in Silver Leaf Township, MN. She was raised on the Illg family farm in Frazee and upon graduating she worked at Yellowstone National Park; one of her greatest adventures. She then moved back to the Detroit Lakes area where she met the love of her life, Duane “Denny” Olson. They married on June 4th, 1954 in Sisseton, SD. After getting married, they resided in Detroit Lakes and started their family. Over the next few years, they moved many times for Denny’s job before finally settling down in their home on Richwood Road with their six children. She worked at Mickey’s Cafe and St. Mary’s Nursing Home until she retired. Following her retirement, she and Denny traveled to many locations and enjoyed going to casinos and shows; especially her favorite singer Danny O’Donnell. After Denny passed away, she participated in many “High Mileage” adventures with her friends and enjoyed the company of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. On September 10th, 2022 she passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, under the care of Pelican Landing, with the help of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Betty would drop anything that she was doing, to be there for the people she loved. She was witty, nurturing and stubborn up until the very end. She loved to watch Little House on the Prairie & Golden Girls, crochet, read, and share stories.

She is survived by her three sons; Darrell (Marian Greely), Bruce, & Peter (Connie) Olson, her two daughters; Lori (Jim Newburgh) Koenig & Kathleen (Michael) Kiehl. 19 Grandchildren; 20 Great-Grandchildren, her sister Joyce Stepheson-Severson, and many nieces and nephews.

She joins her husband: Denny, a son: Perry; step-daughter; Marcheta Cobb; a daughter-in-law; Laurie; grandsons; Brian and Travis Koenig; her parents; three sisters, two brothers and many in-laws in heaven.