William “Bill” L. Olson
William L. Olson, 88, of Hart- ford, SD peacefully passed away Monday August 8, 2022 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
William LeRoy Olson was born to Alvin and Ferne (Hopfe) Olson on April 2, 1934 in Rugby ND. He grew up in Christine and Wahpeton, ND. After graduating from Wahpeton High School at the age of 17, he entered the US Navy and served during the Korean War. After his discharge, he settled in Fargo, ND where he met Yvonne Claire Bernier. They were married on June 28, 1956 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church near Horace, ND. To this union, 5 children were born; Deb, Cheryl, DeAnna, Bob and Michael.
Bill attended college at North Dakota State University, graduating in 1961 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Architectural Engineering. He was employed as an architect at Seifert and Staszko Associates for a short time before starting his career as an engineer with the Veteran’s Administration. The family lived in Fargo for a few years and then transferred to Derby, KS, Miles City, MT, and in 1971 settled in Sioux Falls, SD.
In 1992, Bill retired from the VA and spent much of his free time golfing; even designing and building his home on the golf course in Hartford, SD. During winter months, he lived and golfed in Mesa, AZ. Other hobbies he enjoyed were bowling, lapidary (creating jewelry out of rocks) and watching NDSU football games with other rowdy fans at BB’s Pub and Grill in Sioux Falls or R. T. O’Sullivan’s Sports Grill in Mesa.
Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Deb Olson, Sioux Falls; Cheryl (Terry) Lester, Wall, SD; DeAnna Olson (Duane Goergen), Garvin, MN; Bob (Geany) Olson, Bellevue, NE; and 5 granddaughters, Erin Lester (Bryce Hahn), Sioux Falls; Andrea (Rick) Haertel, Sioux Falls; Crystal (Blaine) Knight, Bellevue, NE; Rachel (Andrew) Schneider, Denver, CO; and Amy Olson, Bellevue, NE; and one great-granddaughter, Harper Knight.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Yvonne, and son, Michael.
Family will greet friends from 2:00-4:00 PM with a prayer service at 3:00 PM Saturday, August 20th, 2022 at Miller Funeral Home Chapel in Hartford, SD. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Shriners Children’s Hospital.
