Ralph Olson

1927 - 2016

Ralph Olson

Humboldt

Ralph L. Olson, 88, of Humboldt passed away April 12, 2016 at the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 15th, at the Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt with Pastor Christy Ehrle officiating. Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Humboldt. Visitation with the family will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.

Mr. Olson is survived by his son, Kim Olson of Dakota City; his daughters, Diane (Mike) Schroeder of Humeston, Carolyn Olson of Phoenix, and Shari (Dave) Novotny of Kirkland, IL; 13 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; sister, Margaret (Robert) Olson of Albert Lea, MN; and sisters-in-law, Marilyn Hundertmark and Anita Hinners. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Donna in 2013; grandson, Curtis Illg; and sisters, Virginia Paeper and Elnora Cunningham.

Ralph Leroy Olson, the son of Clarence "Dutch" and Grace Martines (Ames) Olson, was born August 24, 1927 on a farm near Baldwin, Kansas. In the late 1930's, the family made their home on the Stanzl Farm near Bode, Iowa before moving to a farm north of Bode.

Ralph was united in marriage to Donna Solbeck on June 19, 1949 at the Methodist Church. The couple made their homes on area farms until buying their farm northwest of Bode in 1959. In addition to crops, they raised cattle and pigs. Ralph was especially proud of the buffalo he raised for 42 years. In 2002, the couple retired and moved to Humboldt. Donna passed away in 2013 and Ralph continued to maintain his home until his death.

Ralph was a member of the Faith United Methodist Church. A cowboy at heart, he enjoyed reading western novels and watching RFD TV. Farming was his life and he continued to visit the farm everyday and loved to feed the neighborhood squirrels and birds in his retirement. Above all, Ralph loved and was proud of his family.