Gary Olson

Gary J. Olson, 70, of Fargo, ND, died on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at MeritCare Hospital, Fargo, ND. Gary James Olson was born June 21, 1939, in Grafton, North Dakota, to Olivia Lilja Olson and William James Morrison. He spent his early years with his grandparents, John and Gudrun Olson, and developed a special bond with his aunts and uncles. He attended Walsh County Agricultural School and joined the U.S. Navy in 1956. He married Myrna Moe of Park River, ND, and to this union, two children were born, Cynthia Dawn and Gary Brent. They lived in southern California where Gary was active in his church and community. Gary married Constance Rydell in 1972, and they lived in California, Arizona and Virginia. In 2003, they moved to Fargo, ND, where they became members of Atonement Lutheran Church and the Fargo Moorhead Icelandic Klub. He was proud of his family heritage. Gary was his name; research was his game. Be it genealogy, religion, finance, and many other topics, he always had something he was “looking into.” He was never one to walk away from a spirited philosophical discussion. Gary enjoyed many years working at TRW, Inc. in Redondo Beach, CA, where he supported several interesting aerospace projects – among them, the first Viking mission to Mars. He was a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, CA. Gary is survived by his wife, Connie; daughter Cindy Smith (Laurence Katz); son Brent Olson; grandchildren Shaine (Stu) Schnurman, Chad Smith, Adam (Cheralyn) Smith and Heather (Kelly) Jean; three great-grandchildren, Dugan, Daphne and Maddy Jean; aunts, Thelma Desautel, Solveig Hornung, Helen Olson; uncle, Lawrence (Elaine) Olson; and numerous cousins. He was dearly loved, and will be missed and remembered for the special ways he touched our lives. Góða nótt, elksan (Icelandic – “Good night, dear one”) Celebration of Gary’s life is Monday, Mary 3, 2010, 2:00 PM at Atonement Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation: One hour prior to services at the church. Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND.