1924
2013
4800 S Minnesota Avenue
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
A. Wallace "Wally" Olson
Anton Wallace (Wally) Olson was born December 7, 1924 to John Solomon and Lydia Elizabeth Anderson Olson on a farm in McCook County, South Dakota. He attended the first eight grades of school near Montrose and Unityville, and graduated from Salem High School in 1942. He accepted God's gift of salvation through faith in Christ as a young boy, and became a member of Ramsey Baptist Church. After High school, he farmed with his father for four years. During that time, he and others started Youth for Christ in Salem, South Dakota.
Sensing God's call to pastoral ministry, he went to Bethel College for two years, then to the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1950. He graduated from Bethel Seminary with highest honors in 1953. During these years, he was on staff at Central Baptist Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was ordained in 1953 by this church in an unusual double ordination with Floyd (Pete) Welch.
Wally and Mary Louise Jenkins were married in Central Baptist Church, St. Paul, on June 13, 1947. They have three sons, John Fredric, Carey Wallace, and Dana William.
Wally served in the Baptist General Conference, first as Dakota Conference Missionary, during which time he was founding pastor of First Baptist Church in Chamberlain, SD. He then pastored Olivet Baptist Church in West Des Moines, IA, Calvary Baptist Church in Warren, PA, East Williston Baptist Church in Long Island, NY, and Oak Hill Baptist Church in Humboldt, IA. During "retirement", he was visitation pastor for Pioneer Baptist Church in Pine Grove, CA and served as the first pastor of Island Baptist Church on Camano Island, WA. Finally, he served as chaplain for Twin City Christian Homes in Minnesota. He also did visitation for Bloomington Baptist Church.
Wally and Mary moved into Trail Ridge Retirement Community in 2005, where he enjoyed doing some visiting until his health declined.
Survivors include Mary, his wife of 66 ½ years, sons John (Earlene) of Las Vegas, NV, Carey (Rynette) of Niceville, FL, and Dana (Christa) of Sioux Falls, SD. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Derek (Amy), Jaron (Jennifer), Seth (Jennifer), Ben, Rachel (Joel), Anna, Mary, and Elizabeth, and six great-grandchildren, Kaylin, Trevor, Avery, Riley, Ellie, and Avery, plus nephews, nieces, cousins, and treasured friends.
Wally's parents, sister Lily Gause (Delbert), brother Vernon Olson (Trudy), and niece Dianne Gause preceded him in death.
Funeral Service will be held at 10:30am Saturday, January 4, 2014 at Faith Baptist Fellowship. Visitation will be Friday, January 3, 2014 from 4:00-7:00pm with family present at Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will be at Ramsey Baptist Cemetery, rural Montrose, SD. The family suggests memorials be directed to Faith Baptist Fellowship Mission Fund or Trail Ridge Retirement Center.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Praying for joy in the memories-now and in the future as you remember the many days you spent together.
Gary and Susan Avery
January 2, 2014
Such a faithful life with service from New York to California and impact around the world through his and family's ministries.
Ruth Gollings
January 1, 2014
God bless you Dana and family in this time of deep loss. And yet we celebrate such a life, and the many seeds of faith which were sown in good soil. Blessings!
Joel Wright
January 1, 2014
Olson Family,
Our sympathy to you. We never knew Wally Olson, but are certain of his character because we knew his youngest son, Dana. We had the priviledge to be in their church in Lincoln, NE. Their family blessed ours. May God give you all peace.
Jon & Ann Newcomer
January 1, 2014
What a wonderful heritage you had in your father Dana. We know the last months in particular have been so difficult for you. Praying for your peace. Love, Cindy and Doug Fischer
January 1, 2014
The treasure of his faith and service to others lives on in his sons' families.
January 1, 2014
Olson family, I am sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of meeting Wally and his wife while visiting Mary (granddaughter) in may of 2012. I was able to see his love for God & others during our lunch together. Your family will be in my prayers.
Karen Gorski
January 1, 2014
Showing 1 - 7 of 7 results
Funeral services provided by:
Heritage Funeral Home and Cremation Services - Sioux Falls4800 S Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57108
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read moreWhat kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read moreWe'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read moreLegacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreThey're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read more