David James Olson

Memorial Service: https://vimeo.com/952056106

Tribute Video: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/WHGJWCTDGQ9ZK8B2

David James Olson, 94, of rural Lake Park, MN passed away on February 19, 2024. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, May 31st at 11:00 am at Cormorant Lutheran Church (14314 Co. Hwy 4, Lake Park, MN).

David was born on December 11, 1929, to David and Anna Olson in Fosston, MN, where he grew up on the farm. After graduating from Fosston High School in 1947, Dave entered North Dakota Agricultural College (NDSU), where he participated in ROTC and graduated from the School of Pharmacy in 1951. He loved music and enjoyed playing the saxophone with a local dance band during summers off from school.

Dave worked at Broadway Pharmacy prior to entering the service in 1952. After Army Basic Training, he went to Leadership training and was recommended for Officer Candidate Training at Fort Benning, GA. He graduated as a second lieutenant and was assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas.

Dave married Winona V. Anderson of Fargo, ND, on May 23, 1953, at Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo. After discharge from the Army in 1954, they moved to Moorhead, MN. Dave was hired as a Pharmacist at Service Drug in Fargo, becoming part owner in 1958. He and his partner expanded by purchasing a second store in Detroit Lakes, MN in 1961. Dave became the sole owner of Service Drug in Fargo in 1975.

After selling Service Drug to Medical Pharmacy and retiring in 1994, Dave worked with White Drug nursing homes as a Prescription Consultant. Dave and Winona built their log retirement home on Upper Cormorant Lake in 1995, where he lived until moving to Sioux Falls to live with his daughter and son-in-law in 2023. Dave enjoyed time spent with family at the lake home, where everyone gathered for holidays and occasional weekends to enjoy time together. Dave and Win spent time in Palm Springs, CA, for a number of years.

As a NDSU alum, Dave was a lifetime fan of the Bison. He was a charter member of the Fargo Sertoma Club, a member of the El Zagel Shrine, a member of Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo, and then the Cormorant Lutheran Church, serving on the church councils and committees. Dave was a supporter of Bonanzaville in West Fargo, ND and donated the building which became the Prairie Drug. The contents of a closed pharmacy in Gilby, ND were donated and placed in the drug store. Dave enjoyed many hobbies including wood carving/crafts and creating dollhouses, along with coin and stamp collecting.

Grateful for having shared his life with him are his son, Steven (Diana) of Mankato, MN, daughter Andrea (David) Baillie of Sioux Falls, SD, son David of Circle Pines, MN, grandchildren, Amy Olson (Chris McCarthy), Katie (Sam) Heacox, and David (Brianna) Baillie, step-grandchildren Dirk Baillie and Amanda (Jason) Salkowicz, great-grandchildren, MaKenna and McKinley Baillie and Reagan Heacox, step-great-grandchildren Jadyn, Odin, and Hope Salkowicz, and Jessica Miller.

David was preceded in death by his wife Winona in 2016 and son Scott in 2003.

Arrangements entrusted to Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home - Fargo, ND