Gale Eldon Olson – InForum

Graveside services for Gale Olson and his wife Rose Hollis will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Fargo National Cemetery.

Gale Olson, Laughlin, NV, formerly of Cooperstown, ND, died Jan. 3 at a nursing home in Gilbert, AZ.

Gale was born on September 27, 1943 in Cooperstown, ND to Garfield and Evelyn (Rassmusson) Olson. He attended Romness #1, a rural school for grades 1-8. Graduated from Cooperstown High School in 1961. Attended college at NDSU and Valley City State for a short time. He enjoyed working on the farm and welding at Fargo Tank and Reiten Manufacturing.

He served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971 during the Vietnam era. He was stationed in the United States at Fort Lewis, Washington; Fort Gordon, Georgia; and Fort Meade, Maryland.

He was married to LaVonne Magnusson for a short time. In 1985, he moved to the Laughlin, NV and Bullhead City, AZ areas. He first worked in construction, then worked at two different casinos for many, many years. He retired sometime in the late 70s.

Gale had been alone for a long time. He then met Rose Hollis in 2000, they became best friends and married on March 13, 2008. Rose died on April 8, 2001.

Gale liked to visit people and there weren’t many people he didn’t know. He cherished his many friendships and was always eager to meet someone new. He often said, “I have three good boys.” He also said more than once, “There is no other place on earth so beautiful as the Sheyenne River Valley.”

Gale is survived by his three sons, Wade Olson, Randy Olson and Nicholas Hollis; sister Jeannie Orke, Fargo; brother Richard Olson, Mesa, AZ; six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his best friend/wife Rose, his parents, his brother Deane Gary Olson and his brother-in-law Larry Orke.