Charles E. Olson

Charles Edward Olson was born to Richard and Augusta Olson of Lisbon, ND on January 26, 1928. He died at the age of 87 on August 31, 2015 with family at his side at Sanford Hillsboro Care Center in Hillsboro, ND. He was the youngest of 11 children, losing his mother at the age of 14. He was Baptized and Confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisbon. He was very spiritual and loved attending services and was often heard singing traditional hymns and music around the house.

On September 30, 1946, at the age of 18, Charles enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Japan where he served 16 months with the Military Police, often commenting “the boat ride to Japan cured me of sea sickness”. On February 7, 1948 he received an Honorable Discharge and was awarded the Army Occupation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Marksman Badge.

Upon being discharged from World War II, Charles enrolled in Dakota Business College only to leave college to enlist in the Korean War.

On October 18, 1950 Charles enlisted in the Korean War where he served 12 months with the Military Police. On October 22, 1951 he was Honorably Discharged and received the Korean Service Medal and Bronze Service Star.

After being discharged from Korea, he re-enrolled in Dakota Business College in Fargo, ND under the GI Bill, where he graduated with a degree in Accounting on November 16, 1952.

Upon graduation from Business College, Charles accepted an accounting position at Royal Jewelers in Fargo, ND. He also had several other part time accounting jobs with local small businesses working on nights and weekends.

On July 17, 1954 Charles was married to Ruth Schlabach of Sterling, ND whom he met at Dakota Business College and was happily married for 61 years. They enjoyed a wonderful life together working side by side in the business and raising 3 sons.

His employer at Royal Jewelers, J.G. Neima, recognized that Charles would be a better asset in the business moving him to a sales position, where he excelled and was considered a master salesman due to his love of people. J.G Neima passed away years later and in 1975, Charles and Ruth acquired Royal Jewelers and Tri-State Distributing, as he described, “with a loan from Ruth’s father, Pete Schlabach, and a loan on their piano because that is all we had for collateral”. Charles and Ruth operated the businesses together up until his death along with their 3 sons and a very dedicated group of employees, past and present, who were the most wonderful people and whom Charles always considered family.

Charles had many hobbies, which included hunting, fishing, golfing and had a love of cars. His passion of hunting and fishing took him on many memorable adventures which included Canada, Northwest Territory, Lake Michigan, Seattle, and many salt water locations from Belize to Costa Rica to Florida. Charles never missed an opening fishing weekend in Minnesota or the waterfowl opener in North Dakota. Every opener included a week of preparation and excitement for the openers each year. Charles also loved golfing, especially the charity best ball tournaments with his sons and friends. He often was heard saying, “I will shoot 52 on 9 holes in the spring or fall whether I practice or not”.

Charles was involved in many service organizations, being a proud member of the Shrine Club, Master Masons, Jesters, Sertoma and also the Elks, Eagles, VFW, and American Legion. Charles enjoyed service and socializing and especially loved working the El Zagal Shrine Circus raising money through balloon sales to support the Shriners Children’s Hospital. Charles was a very generous person who never turned down a request for donations and was a large supporter of the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo for many years.

Most of all, he very much loved and enjoyed spending time with his 5 grand children, Kathryn (24), Laura (22), Ruth (21), Charles (18), and Grace (16). He enjoyed spending time with them, family meals prepared by Grandma Ruth, traveling and laughing and teaching them how life should be lived.

Charles is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ruth; sons, Greg (Rochelle), Richard, and Brent (Cheryl); grandchildren, Kathryn, Laura, Ruth, Charles and Grace; sisters in law, June Olson, Helen Dancer, and Carol Knoff; nephews, Kenneth (Karen) Olson, Rodney (Connie) Olson, Lyle (Barbara) Olson, Charles (Lois) Anderson, Paul Olson, James (Karen) Arntson, Steve Dancer, Peter Knoff, and Kurt Knoff; and nieces Gayle (Loren) Steele, Lynn (John) Otterson, Cindy (Joe) Murray, June (Leroy) Bratland, Sharon (Fred) Andrusak, Barbara (Gerald) Carlson, and Judy Dancer.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents and each of his siblings and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations in memory of Charles may be made to Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center, 820 4th Street North, Fargo, ND 58102 or Hospice of the Red River Valley.