Dorothy Olson Obituary

Dorothy Olson, age 92, of Canby, MN passed away Saturday, February 10, 2024 at Sylvan Court Nursing Home in Canby, MN. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 16th at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gary, SD. Visitation will be Thursday, February 15th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, MN and will resume Friday one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at St. Stephen's Cemetery in Canby, MN. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel of Canby, MN is entrusted with arrangements.
Dorothy Mae Olson was born on May 6, 1931 in Deuel County, SD to Orva Josephine (Udesen) Peterson and Martin Dewey Peterson. She was a lifelong resident of the Gary and Canby area. She was raised on a farm in rural SD and attended Spring Dell Country School through the 8th grade. She was united in marriage on September 25th, 1949 to Chancey Harry Olson. They farmed and raised their seven children near Gary SD. After Chancey passed away in 2011, Dorothy continued to reside in the Gary and Canby area until May of 2023 when she moved to Sylvan Court.
Dorothy was a lifelong member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gary, SD. She was a tireless farm wife who gardened, canned, cooked, baked and sewed for her family. She also raised and butchered hundreds of chickens and had laying hens for fresh eggs to eat and sell. Over the years she had collected souvenir plates from different states and countries and even had an article in the Canby news written about her large collection. In her later years she crocheted numerous doilies and afghans for family and friends. She also enjoyed doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles and playing games with her grandkids. Dorothy always had an open door with the coffee pot on and a plate of homemade goodies. She cherished her family, she was a devoted wife, mother, grand and great grandmother. She loved being surrounded by her family and friends. Dorothy passed away on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at the Sylvan Court Nursing Home in Canby at the age of 92.
Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Diane (Dave) Sturm of Mankato, MN, Jean Larkin of LasCruces, NM, Judy (Joe) Lueck of Mankato, MN, Karen Steinke of St. Michael, MN and Kim Olson of Plattsmouth, NE, her grandchildren, Nicolle (Chris) Cornick, Michelle (Mike) Schell, Danielle (Mark) Frank, Devin (Denise) Sturm, Allen (Hillery) Larkin, Chris Larkin, Angela Larkin, Tony (Lisa) Olson, Stephanie Olson, Gwen (Tanya) Lueck, Ben (Denise) Lueck, Tiffany (Steven) Steinke, Blake Steinke and Brandon (Miranda) Steinke and 24 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. Her sisters-in-law, Anna (Maynard) Carpenter of St. Francis, MN and Joan (Bob) Kurth of Sioux Falls, SD.
She was preceded in death by her husband Chancey, her parents, two sisters and their husbands, Verna (Warner) Volk and Linda (Gene) Limberg, sons, Allen, Dean and Roger Olson, mother and father-in-law, Harry A. and Ida Olson, son-in-law Ed Larkin and granddaughter Heather Larkin.
The family wishes to thank the many kind and caring staff from Sylvan Court, Sanford Hospital and Hospice for her care the past months. Blessed be her memory.
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