Olson, Kenneth L.

Kenneth L. Olson, 79, of Decorah, died Sunday morning, Oct. 24, 2010, at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah from post-surgical complications. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, with the Rev. Marian Pruitt-Jefferson officiating. Burial will be in Phelps Cemetery, Decorah, with full military honors. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Fjelstul Funeral Home, Decorah, and one hour before services Friday at the church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family.

Friends may sign Kenneth's guest book or send condolences online at

Kenneth Lowell Olson was born Sept. 9, 1931, in Wentworth, S.D., to Luella (Hattlestad) and Martin Olson. He was baptized Oct 12, 1931, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison, S.D., by the Rev. Seth Eastvold. From Madison S.D., the family moved to Albert Lee, Minn.; Mason City, Iowa; and then to Decorah, Iowa, when Ken was about 10 year old. He was confirmed by the Rev. T.A. Hoff on July 1, 1945, at First Lutheran Church. Ken graduated from Decorah High School in 1949. He was in the Army from 1951 to 1953 and served as an M.P. (Military Police) in San Francisco, Calif. Ken was on board a ship for Korea when it was announced the ship was overloaded and he was one of the men dismissed from ship, thereby never being sent overseas.

Ken met his beloved soul mate, (Helen Elaine Jacobson) while she had returned to her hometown of Decorah on a two-week vacation, while she was living in New Orleans, La. They met on a Friday, six days later Ken proposed and six weeks from the day they met they were married. Needless to say Helen never returned to Louisiana. They were married on July 8, 1955, at the First Lutheran Church in Decorah by the Rev B.A. Johnson.

Ken was hauling canned milk from farm to creamery at the time they were married and continued to do so for three years. He then worked for Anderson Distributing delivering Hamm's Beer for 12 years.

In 1968, with the encouragement of then Hercules Explosives salesman, E. St. Pierre Bellinger (Bell), he entered into the explosives business. Ken officially retired on May 1, 2008, after 40 years. Olson Explosives Inc. is now owned and operated by his son and daughter, Mark and Judy, who had worked for many years side by side with their father.

For Ken, family and business were his first priority taking up the majority of his time. He did enjoy golf, his card club, and winter vacations in Yuma Arizona and Gulf Shores Alabama.

Ken is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Helen; his three children, Mark (Jenny), Karla (Dale Olson), and Judy (Dale Peter); and his beloved six grandchildren, Melanie, Melissa and Jason Olson, Jon and Sara Olson and Rhonda (Chopper Albert).

Rhonda blessed him with his one great-granddaughter, 3 ½ year old, Ariana Albert.

Ken is also survived by one brother, Donald Olson; sister-in-law, Florence Olson; brother-in-law, Galen Jacobson, all of Decorah, and Roger (Jerene) Jacobson of Prescott, Ariz.; and five nieces and nephews.

Ken is predeceased by his parents; his in-laws, Carl and Martha Jacobson; one brother, Ronald Olson; and one sister-in-law, Mabel Olson.

The family celebrates the last 30 years they have enjoyed with Ken, due to his ability to fight all the medical obstacles thrown at him. (Aka: A Strong, Stubborn Norwegian).

“Angel's took the strongest Norwegian this morning”

- Missy