Leone Kathleen Olson

Leone K. Olson, 95 of West Fargo, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at Sanford Health in Fargo.

Leone was born January 3, 1921 on the family farm near Harwood, ND to parents Bernard and Elfreda (Larson) Hatlen. She was the youngest of thirteen children. Following grade school, she attended Central High in Fargo and graduated in 1938. During her senior year, she met Percy E. Olson and they were married on May 2, 1939. They made their home in Fargo, where they raised their three children – a son and two daughters.

Leone worked for Greyhound Bus Lines in the ticket office while Percy served in WWII. When he returned home in 1946, they purchased their home in North Fargo, where Leone lived until 1997. Leone and Percy were charter members of Messiah Lutheran Church, joining in 1950 where she served as parish secretary for a few years. She was active in the Ladies’ Aid, Sunday school and Bible school, as well as the quilting and Mary circle. Leone began working for DeLendrecies department store in downtown Fargo in 1960 and continued to work there as the store moved to the West Acres Mall, retiring in 1981. Percy retired from Burlington Northern Railroad also in 1981 and died later that year on November 10.

Leone was a member of the Sons of Norway, where she volunteered and enjoyed years of fellowship with her friends. She also joined a singles group (People Living Singly) and continued their fellowship over the years. In 1999, she moved to West Fargo to be closer to her grandchildren. One of her greatest joys was watching her great-grandsons play on the West Fargo Packers teams in hockey, basketball, and baseball. She seldom missed a home game. Leone also enjoyed watching Minnesota Twins baseball.

She is survived by her children, Ernie (Gloria) of Moorhead, Susan (James) Richter of West Fargo, and Patricia (Gene) Miller of Minneapolis; seven grandchildren, Tom (Susie) Olson of Pelican Rapids, Matt (Tiffany) Miller of Minneapolis, Michelle Storrusten, Stacy Horn and Tammy (Scott) Schumacher of West Fargo, Jenny Miller of Minneapolis, and Kim (Bryan) DeVine of California, and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Leone was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Percy; infant son, Ronnie; seven brothers, Oliver, Fred, Oscar, Emil, Arnold, Robert, and Francis, and sisters, Agnes (infant), Bertha Ellison, Mabel Pyle, Lillian Whiteside, and Mildred Murdock.

Memorials are preferred to the Messiah Hour of Worship.