Dorothy Olson

DOROTHY C. OLSON Our wife, mother, grandma, sister, aunt, and friend, Dorothy Claire Gilbertson Olson, was born on April 27, 1928 to Martha Mohn and Victor Gilbertson in Chicago. Dorothy died July 12, 2013 in Alexandria surrounded by a circle of love with her husband Neal and their children Becky, Dan, Naomi, and Sharon, with Dana and Ron. Dorothy grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, graduating from high school there and attending Eau Claire Teachers College. A guiding force led her to St. Olaf College in Northfield where she fell in love with and married Neal Olson of Little Falls on August 5, 1950. After graduating from college, their 63 years together continued to St. Paul while Neal was in Lutheran seminary and then on to the places where Neal and Dorothy served churches and raised their family in Dunbar, Iowa and Becker, Clarissa, Maynard, Lowry, and Alexandria, Minnesota. Dorothy and Neal began spending summers on Lake Carlos and moved there in 1992. The lake was the perfect companion for Dorothy?s lifelong love of God?s beautiful creation as she would alert us all to the loon off the shore and the beautiful sunsets over the lake. She loved fishing and walking in the state park, always sharing it with those around her. She also had time then to advocate for the things that were important to her: Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota, Lutheran World Relief, PFLAG, literacy programs, Habitat for Humanity, and ELCA Malaria Campaign. All her life she was active in the church and is a member of Bethesda Lutheran Church. And most of all when we think of Dorothy, we think of family ? Becky Olson of Fridley; Dan Olson and Ron McClellen of Iowa City; Naomi and Bart Stroupe and grandson Will of Seattle; and Sharon Olson and Dana Cosler of Duluth. She also leaves her beloved sisters Annette Jain and Eleanor Buller and eleven dear nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her infant daughter Judith Lynn, and her brother Richard Gilbertson. In honor of her belief in the part we all can play in helping others, memorials for Dorothy will be for ELCA Malaria Campaign and the Alexandria Literacy Project. Services will be held at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Alexandria on Wednesday, July 17, 2013, 1:00 pm. Burial will be at the Carlos Prairie Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria on Tuesday, July 16, 5-7 pm. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria www.andersonfuneral.net