Robert "Bob" T. Olson

Robert "Bob" Thorval Olson, 87, of Hawley, MN, passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at Farmstead Living, Moorhead, MN. Robert Thorval Olson was born in Hawley, MN, on March 29, 1937, to Thorval and Alice (Gill) Olson. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Hawley High School. Following high school, he continued his education at North Dakota Agricultural College (now NDSU) through the Army ROTC program. Bob married his high school sweetheart, Helen Thompson on July 8, 1959. A week later Bob and Helen started their 65-year marriage journey at Fort Benning, GA for basic training and the start of his military service in the U.S. Army where he became a helicopter pilot. Bob had a strong devotion to his country.

Bob and Helen returned to the Hawley area in 1962 to raise their family and pursue the goal of farming. Farming was Bob’s passion; his lifelong involvement in farming also included the business side of the industry, while building and growing his own farm. He held positions at the Farm Bureau, Allied Chemical, and Fert-A-Flow while transitioning to full-time farming with his father Thorval, and his son Rob. 

Bob was a lifetime learner and was always up for a challenge. In 1978, his business interests led to part ownership and an appointment to the Board of Directors at the First National Bank of Hawley (now Bell Bank). In 1997, he established Prairie Hills Estates with his wife and children; a housing development that will continue to grow with the Hawley community for generations to come.

Bob loved the community of Hawley; serving on the Hawley School Board, Hawley Township Board, 4-H, Jaycees, and Lions Club, and was a lifelong member at Hawley Lutheran Church. Bob and Helen donated the ‘Prairie Nature Center’ to the Hawley Schools; he wanted to make sure that children had the opportunity to learn about nature outside of the classroom. 

Bob’s favorite pastimes involved everything outdoors - hunting and fishing, working his dogs, spending wintertime with Helen in the Florida Keys, and summertime at their Strawberry Lake home. Most of all, he loved spending quality time with his family. He will be dearly missed.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Helen; his children, Robert S. (Lonna) of Hawley, Susan (Richard) Cox of Atlanta, GA, Sara (Dan) Noreen of Hawley, and Stephanie (Ted) Critchley of Hawley. Grandchildren: Nicole (Eric) Strafelda, Stacie (Keifer) Hinrichs, Kari Olson of Hawley, Casey (Caitlin) Harrison, Ally Harrison, Chad Cox, Derek (Kelly) Cox, Dylan Cox of Atlanta, GA, Jenny (Forrest) Hirsch of Garrison, ND, Jessy (Luke) VanHavermaet, Jody (Aaron) Rothermund of Wadena, MN, Kobe Critchley of Chicago, IL, Carson Critchley of St Paul, MN, Kora Critchley and Calvin Critchley of Hawley. 10 great-grandchildren with 3 more are on the way. His two sisters, Edna Mae Pearson of Detroit Lakes, MN, and Marlene Munig of Virginia, MN.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Drew Harrison; parents, Thorval and Alice; and brothers-in-law, George Pearson and George Munig. 

Visitation will be Sunday, December 29, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 6:00 p.m., in Wright Funeral Home, Hawley, MN.

Funeral service will be Monday, December 30, at 11:00 a.m., and visitation will start at 10:00 in Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley, MN.

Livestream of the service can be viewed at Live.hawleylutheran.org

Interment will be at Hawley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial designations may be made to Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley Park Board- Prairie Hills Park, and/or Hospice of Red River Valley.