MALTA-Fred
J. Olson, 92, a WWII Army Veteran and retired farmer-rancher died
Saturday, January 30, at his son’s home in Columbus of natural causes.
Memorial
services will be 11:00 A.M. Thursday, February 4, at the Kirkwood
Memorial Chapel in Malta. Military Honors will be held at the chapel
following the services. Interment will be at a later time in the Malta
Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the V.F.W. following the services.
Kirkwood Funeral Home and Hi-Line Crematory are in charge of
arrangements. Memorials may be in Fred’s name made to the Phillips
County Historical Society. Condolences for the family may be left at www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.
Survivors
include his wife Gladys Olson of Malta; daughters Sandy Olson and Twila
Olson of Malta, sons, Mark Olson of Columbus, Ross Olson of Malta;
sister, Agnes Lowney of Malta; grandchildren, Jill and Chad Conover and
Erica Dion; great grandchildren, Reese Conover and Gavin Dion. He was
preceded in death by two brothers, a sister, and infant son.
Fred
was born November 25, 1917 to Neils and K. Marie (Jensen) Olson in the
Bennett Lake Community South of Malta. A few years later the family
moved closer to town in Black Coulee. Fred served in the Army in WWII
from April 21, 1942 until Nov. 6, 1945 with time spent in the Aleutian
Islands and Asiatic Pacific. Fred married Gladys Freestone on July 3,
1954 in Malta. He worked for Carol Hanson delivering bilk fuel until
moving to the Strater Community East of Malta and began farming and
ranching full time. Fred had a natural knack for finding Indian
Arrowheads. It was like he was attracted to them when no one else would
see them. Fred was very active in the VFW and American Legion and served
as commander of both groups over the years. He was always available to
help on the Honor Guards at funerals. He had outstanding work ethics and
did not believe in taking short cuts just to finish something. Fred
enjoyed reading about Montana history. Later in life he got great
enjoyment from his dog “Moses.”
Fred
was born November 25, 1917 to Neils and K. Marie (Jensen) Olson in the
Bennett Lake Community South of Malta. A few years later the family
moved closer to town in Black Coulee. Fred served in the Army in WWII
from April 21, 1942 until Nov. 6, 1945 with time spent in the Aleutian
Islands and Asiatic Pacific. Fred married Gladys Freestone on July 3,
1954 in Malta. He worked for Carol Hanson delivering bilk fuel until
moving to the Strater Community East of Malta and began farming and
ranching full time. Fred had a natural knack for finding Indian
Arrowheads. It was like he was attracted to them when no one else would
see them. Fred was very active in the VFW and American Legion and served
as commander of both groups over the years. He was always available to
help on the Honor Guards at funerals. He had outstanding work ethics and
did not believe in taking short cuts just to finish something. Fred
enjoyed reading about Montana history. Later in life he got great
enjoyment from his dog “Moses.” 