Sonya Lee Olson

Sonya Olson, 88, died peacefully at Flagstone in Eden Prairie on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Daughter of Harry Lee and Pauline Zoe (Carter) Evans, Sonya was born in Kansas on September 7, 1937. In 1940, her mother died and she went to live with her maternal grandparents J.J. and Flora Carter. After her grandfather died in 1943, she went to live with her Aunt Pearl and cousin Joy.

In 1950 Sonya moved from Kansas to Colorado to live with her cousin Peggy at Willow Nook Ranch. She treasured her years there, spent caring for dogs, riding and grooming horses, and taking in the mountain views and night skies. During this time, she met Bill and Winnie Orton, who became an important part of her life. In 1952, when Bill left the Elizabeth Presbyterian Church for a new call, Sonya moved with them to Osakis, Minnesota.

It was in Osakis that Sonya met “Tuke” Olson, the man that would become her husband. During her senior year she was honored to be chosen Homecoming Queen. She graduated from Osakis High School in 1955. On August 19, 1958, she married Newman Olson, and together they began a devoted partnership rooted in love, shared purpose, and steady support. In 1959, Sonya graduated from Hamline University’s School of Nursing with a Bachelor of Nursing Science.

Sonya’s commitment to lifelong learning and service defined her nursing career. While raising her children, she completed continuing education courses, maintained professional subscriptions, and kept her licensure current in a rapidly evolving field. She also volunteered regularly in the community, supporting school vaccination clinics and local blood drives. After her children were older, she returned to the workforce, serving as charge nurse, in-service director, and director of nursing at the Osakis Community Memorial Home. She later shared her expertise by teaching nursing courses at Alexandria Technical and Community College.

She retired in 1988 to devote herself to breeding and showing Arabian horses, an endeavor that brought her great pride and joy and earned her many ribbons. Always eager to learn, Sonya became highly proficient with computers and generously applied those skills in service to the International Arabian Horse Association. In recognition of her dedication, she received a President’s Award in 1992 and a Volunteer Service Award in 1997.

Sonya served on the board of directors of FNBO until the bank’s sale in 2019. She was a longtime member of PEO and held several leadership roles within her local chapter. She also sang in her church choir and enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, listening to music, watching science fiction shows, and spending time with her dogs. A lifelong stargazer, she was among many who witnessed the Phoenix Lights in 1997.

Sonya is survived by daughters Kathy (Greg) Hansen, Betsy (Loren) Pietrzak, and Chris (Spence) Engebretson; son Stuart Olson; grandchildren Jonathan and Christopher Hansen, Cory and Derek Pietrzak, Justin, Tyler and Zach Dahlheimer, Megan Hunt and Tyler Olson; great grandchildren Everett, Elsie, Arthur, Connor, Audrey, Lucy, Archer, Wilder, River, Leo, and Indiana; sister-in-law Ilene, and several nieces, nephews, foster siblings and step grandchildren.

Sonya was preceded in death by her husband Newman, her parents Harry and Pauline (Carter) Evans, her sister Cynthia, and her foster parents Winnie and Bill Orton.

For the last four years, Sonya was a resident of Elysian Memory Care of Chanhassen and then Flagstone Presbyterian Home of Eden Prairie. We are grateful to both facilities for the care they provided her. We are also very appreciative of the invaluable and compassionate support our family received from St. Croix Hospice and Optage Hospice during the last 27 months of Sonya’s journey.

Please join us in celebrating Sonya’s life at the Osakis Presbyterian Church on Friday, April 3, 2026, at 11 AM. A public visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.

If so desired, memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Osakis or to the donor’s choice.

Interment will be in Gordon Pleasant Hill Cemetery.