Henry Olson
d. April 5, 2023
Henry Olson Sr., 81, of Granite Falls, passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 15th at 11am at Rock Haven Church in Granite Falls. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services on Saturday.
Henry Olaf Olson Sr was born on the 3rd of June in 1941, He obtained the age of 81 years 9 months and 5 days. He was born in Sacred Heart Minnesota to Gilford R and Evelyn C (Wiglund) Olson. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church. With his brother Gale they started farming at Hanks age of 9 due to the passing of his father. During this time, he was also hired out to help other area farmers. Henry graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1960. When he turned 10 years of age he started collecting and dealing in scrap iron and continued to do this for the remainder of his life.
Henry met the love of his life, Virginia Lee (Ginny) Werner on June 9th, 1959, at the Fiesta Ballroom attending one of Buddy Holly’s last performances. They were united in marriage on September 29th, 1961. They resided in Granite Falls for a short period of time before buying a farm site west of Granite Falls. To this marriage there were four children born to them. Babette Ann (Bunny) Bardwell, Henry Olaf (Butch)Olson Jr, Lee Richard Olson and Kimberly Sue Johnson.
After working at Rodgers Hydraulics for 13 years Henry switched to his passion of raising livestock, to purchasing hogs for John Morrel packing plant and purchasing cattle for feeder cattle growers in the Granite Falls area. He was also a dairy farmer for many years and enjoyed the time spent in the barn with his cows and it was a joy when a newborn calf arrived. (Sometimes it may have been a house guest due to health issues). You never knew what you would find at the farm, horses, chickens gardens, sheep, pigs, you just never knew what Hank would purchase. After a while he and Ginny purchased Tri County Café and ran it for over a decade. He continued to work on the farm and helped other area farmers during harvest season and the season he enjoyed the
most putting up hay for his livestock and neighbors. He started a machine shop on the farm site and built many cylinders for Tebben Manufacturing in Clara City. His son Lee started working with him also, this became Olson Machine shop which operated for over 20 years.
His enjoyment for the outdoors led him to hunts in South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. He also loved to fish, which with hunting and fishing he passed on his love not only to his children but also his grandchildren. Henry was a avid fur trapper from the time he was a young man until late in his 70’s He loved to tell stories to his kids and grandchildren about the time that he grew up in. He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He is survived by children, Bunny Bardwell (Jim Moist) Butch Olson (Deb Colon) Lee and Karla Olson, and Kimmi Johnson, along with 12 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, loving wife Ginny, granddaughter Kailey. Sisters Jeanie, Audrey, Barbie, and brother Gale.
Henry Olaf Olson Sr was born on the 3rd of June in 1941, He obtained the age of 81 years 9 months and 5 days. He was born in Sacred Heart Minnesota to Gilford R and Evelyn C (Wiglund) Olson. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church. With his brother Gale they started farming at Hanks age of 9 due to the passing of his father. During this time, he was also hired out to help other area farmers. Henry graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1960. When he turned 10 years of age he started collecting and dealing in scrap iron and continued to do this for the remainder of his life.
Henry met the love of his life, Virginia Lee (Ginny) Werner on June 9th, 1959, at the Fiesta Ballroom attending one of Buddy Holly’s last performances. They were united in marriage on September 29th, 1961. They resided in Granite Falls for a short period of time before buying a farm site west of Granite Falls. To this marriage there were four children born to them. Babette Ann (Bunny) Bardwell, Henry Olaf (Butch)Olson Jr, Lee Richard Olson and Kimberly Sue Johnson.
After working at Rodgers Hydraulics for 13 years Henry switched to his passion of raising livestock, to purchasing hogs for John Morrel packing plant and purchasing cattle for feeder cattle growers in the Granite Falls area. He was also a dairy farmer for many years and enjoyed the time spent in the barn with his cows and it was a joy when a newborn calf arrived. (Sometimes it may have been a house guest due to health issues). You never knew what you would find at the farm, horses, chickens gardens, sheep, pigs, you just never knew what Hank would purchase. After a while he and Ginny purchased Tri County Café and ran it for over a decade. He continued to work on the farm and helped other area farmers during harvest season and the season he enjoyed the
most putting up hay for his livestock and neighbors. He started a machine shop on the farm site and built many cylinders for Tebben Manufacturing in Clara City. His son Lee started working with him also, this became Olson Machine shop which operated for over 20 years.
His enjoyment for the outdoors led him to hunts in South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. He also loved to fish, which with hunting and fishing he passed on his love not only to his children but also his grandchildren. Henry was a avid fur trapper from the time he was a young man until late in his 70’s He loved to tell stories to his kids and grandchildren about the time that he grew up in. He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He is survived by children, Bunny Bardwell (Jim Moist) Butch Olson (Deb Colon) Lee and Karla Olson, and Kimmi Johnson, along with 12 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, loving wife Ginny, granddaughter Kailey. Sisters Jeanie, Audrey, Barbie, and brother Gale.
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