Olaf Nyland

Olaf “Ole” Nyland age 90 of Alexandria, passed away on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at Bethany Home. A memorial service will take place at the Bethany Home Chapel on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 11:00 AM with a visitation taking place one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home of Alexandria, MN. www.andersonfuneral.net

Olaf “Ole” Nyland was born October 30, 1927, at the family farm in Clarkfield, Minnesota, the son of Olaus and Ida (Berg) Nyland. Ole graduated from Clarkfield High School. He married Eleanor Lideen on October 19, 1947 in Wood Lake, Minnesota. This marriage was blessed with two children, Gary and Sandra. Ole spent his entire career in the grain elevator business, starting at the Wood Lake Elevator, then moved on to manage several elevators in southern Minnesota. In the mid 70’s he was hired by GTA as a line Elevator Supervisor in Fargo, ND. They then spent their retirement years in Alexandria.

From an early age, Ole showed his talent for craftsmanship. He used his curiosity of how things worked and his ability to make his own patterns to make beautiful wooden treasures for family, friends and especially grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was proud of constructing an exact scale replica of the grain elevator that he worked at, even going into the intricate detail of creating a working grain auger. As his vision changed and he was unable to see the small numbers and lines, he would use cuts of wood to help him with measuring and adapting his tools in many other ways. He also enjoyed fishing and creating memories with family and friends over the years. He was a social person who enjoyed visiting and sharing life’s journey with others. He affected so many lives in ways that he wasn’t ever aware of. He will be missed.

Ole died on Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at the age of 90. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor; parents, Olaus and Ida; one brother, Orville Nyland, and three sisters, Alice Severson, Amy Larson and Agnes Borgendale. He is survived by his daughter, Sandra Holck and husband, Wayne; son, Gary Nyland; sister, Esther Donner of Montevideo, MN; brother-in-law, Allen Burmaster of Vancouver, WA; two grandchildren, Jenn Holck of Cottage Grove, MN and Jeremy Holck (Kathleen Beterams) of Brooklyn Park, MN; great-grandchildren, Clara and Alex of Cottage Grove and many nieces and nephews.