Dale A. Olson

Memorial Service: Friday, October 17, 2003 at 2:00PM at Concordia Lutheran Church in Forsyth

Inurnment: will follow at the Forsyth Cemetery

Retired Coal Miner Dale A. Olson 76, of Colstrip died in the ambulance that was bringing him one step closer to home on the afternoon of October 13, 2003.

Dale was born to Lawrence and Manda (Ryan) Olson in Columbus, North Dakota on April 12, 1927. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. He was the youngest of four children. He lived with his family South West of Larson N.D. Sometime in the 1930's his family moved West of Larson and started a coalmine. When Dale was eight years old he drove a team of three horses on a coal dump wagon hauling spoil from the old steam shovel, that his brother operated. He dumped the wagon himself by ratcheting the door chute on the dump wagon. The summer after Dale finished the 8th grade, he ran a 3-cylinder D6 Cat and a scraper. During the fall and winter months he ran the tipple on the coalmine. The family closed the mine when his oldest brother LeRoy was drafted. At that time the dirty 30's were over, so Dale helped his Dad farm until he married Phyllis Simonson on April 17, 1949 at the First Lutheran Church in Columbus N.D. They had five children together. Dale farmed in Montana and North Dakota until they moved to Colstrip Montana in 1968 to help reopen the coalmine. In 1970 Dale went to work at the Peabody Coal Mine for the UMWA where he ran a drill, did some blasting, operated a shovel and the dragline. Dale retired in 1991.

Dale enjoyed the simple things in life and was dearly loved by his family. He enjoyed helping his kids with their projects or keeping himself busy in his workshop. He whistled everywhere he went so it was easy to find him in the house or out in the yard. He enjoyed the family get-togethers and loved to play Whist especially when he "skunked" the other team. He enjoyed his fall trips to Missouri with Phyllis to visit his daughter and her family. He especially enjoyed time spent with Phyllis when they could reminisce about their time in North Dakota. He enjoyed going to the post office for the mail every afternoon and visiting with who ever he ran into. Dale was diagnosed with a lung disease approximately 6 years ago. Over the last couple of years the disease kept him close to home where his wife looked after him. He looked forward to his lOAM beer and visits from friends and family. Dale fought hard against his disease with the help of his wife until the very end, so he survived longer than anyone had initially predicted. At moments we thought the disease was going to get him but his old hard-headed North Dakotan Spirit wouldn't let it, and by the grace of God we were able to have him with us for a little bit longer.

Dale is survived by his loving and dedicated wife Phyllis Olson. His five children and their spouses and his grandchildren and great grandchildren; Judy (Rick) Lumm of Missouri, Vicki (Kim) Mees of Forsyth, Terry (Debby) Olson, Roger (Patricia) Olson and Layne (Sandi) Olson of Colstrip. He is also survived by his brothers LeRoy Olson of Colorado and his brother Dean Olson of North Dakota.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father and one sister Maxine (Olson) Nordman.

Memorials can be made to a charity of one's choice.

Condolences can be sent to the Olson family at www.stevensonandsons.com