Winona Virginia Olson

Winona Virginia Olson, 85, of rural Lake Park, MN, passed away on Saturday, February 27, 2016.

Winona was born on October 18, 1930 to Earl and Adeline Anderson in Fargo, ND. Win graduated from Fargo’s Central High School, then attended NDSU (NDAC), where she graduated in 1952 with a degree in Home Economics and Clothing. Win was a life long member of Kappa Delta Sorority, serving one year as President. A highlight of her college career was when she was chosen as a chapter delegate to the Kappa Delta Bicentennial convention in Pasadena, California in 1951. After graduation, Win taught school at Thief River Falls, MN.

Winona married David J. Olson of Fosston, MN on May 23, 1953, at Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo. They lived for a short time in Manhattan, Kansas, where her husband was stationed at Fort Riley. Upon his discharge in 1954, they moved to Moorhead, MN, and in August, 1957, moved across the river to their new home in Fargo. Win was a homemaker, raising their four children. Summers were spent at their lake cabin with family and friends. She was very active at Olivet Lutheran Church, helping to organize church dinners and functions. Win was a substitute teacher in the Fargo School System for many years, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Through the years, she was a member of PEO Chapter Y, Junior League, Ladies of El Zagel, and the Cormorant Area Art Club.

Win was creative, with an artist’s view of life. Along with her love of painting in watercolor, she enjoyed quilting, needlepoint, cross stitch, and hardanger embroidery. Win and her husband retired in 1995 to their log home on Upper Cormorant Lake. She loved the time spent at the lake with her children and grandchildren.

Winona was at home until January 9; went to Ecumen Transitional Care in Detroit Lakes on January 15, and passed away on February 27 of natural causes.

Winona is survived by her husband, Dave; son, Steven (Diana), of Mankato; daughter, Andrea (David) Baillie of Sioux Falls, SD; son, David Jr. of Minneapolis, and three grandchildren, Amy and Katie Olson, and David Baillie; and her brother, Donald (Becky) Anderson of Fort Worth, TX. Win was preceded in death by her son, Scott (Kim) in 2003; her parents, Earl and Adeline Anderson, and her sister Gloria.