Olson Funeral & Cremation Service

Services: 11 AM; Friday (1/30), Pine City Evang-Free Church-Lighthouse, 1040 Main St. S, Pine City; Visitation 5-8 PM; Thurs (1/29) Swanson Chapel, 665 3rd Ave. SW, Pine City. (320) 629-3120 FuneralandCremationService.com

Bradley Thomas Cook of Rush City passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 11, 2026, surrounded by his loving family at the age of 76 after a long battle with cancer. Brad was born on August 11, 1949 to James and Shirley (Wood) Cook in Farmington, Minnesota. He attended Rush City and graduated from Rush City High School in 1967. He went on to a vocational college before joining the United States Marines in 1969 where he served in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1975. Upon discharge from the military, he sold his prized corvette to launch the start of his business ventures with friends, Loren Jennings and Jerry Moses. Throughout the years, they ran multiple different companies,...

Norma Jean Kriel was born July 12, 1943 to Norman and Oleen (Langerud) Kriel on a farm in Goodridge, Minnesota, near Thief River Falls. She graduated from the Goodridge School. She married Joe Sanfellipo and together they had a daughter, Tamara, born in 1970. Norma moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa. Norma moved back to Thief River Falls where she worked at Arctic Cat. She married Darcy Moses. Norma and Darcy purchased a farmhouse in Greely, Minnesota. She worked as a manager at the Rush City Piccadilly until she retired. After retirement, she worked at Waste Management. After Darcy's passing in 2003 Norma sold the farmhouse and purchased a house in town in Rush City. She had a vast love for...

Beverley June (Ablard) Heinrich, age 92, passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Encore Assisted Living and Memory Care in North Branch, MN. Beverley was born on July 8, 1933 in Dailey Township in Mille Lacs County, MN to Lawrence and Harriet (Mikkelson) Ablard. She spent her early years in the northern part of Minnesota where her father was employed building roads and logging. When Beverley was 5, the family moved to Mille Lacs County near Onamia where she would graduate from Onamia High School in 1951. Beverley went on to attend the St. Cloud State Teacher's College where she received her teaching license in 1953. After a brief stint teaching at a country school, she was employed...

Rodney "Rocky" Curtis Bodell, age 70, of (Rock Creek) Rush City, died on August 10, 2025, as the result of a tragic motorcycle accident. Rocky was born on October 25, 1954, to Norman and Audrey (Nowling) Bodell, in Rush City, Minnesota. He grew up and attended school in Rush City. He spent his teenage years working on local farms and hanging out with the "Good Ole Boys", who remained the best life-long friends a guy could ask for. Rocky married his former wife, Julie, in April of 1975. They were married for 40 years. Together they had two beautiful children, Dustin and Cammi. Rocky enjoyed watching his children grow, attending school functions, taking them on trips, and being there for...

Margery Stratte Swanson died peacefully at Saint Therese hospice in Shoreview, MN on July 28, 2025. She was born August 8, 1925, to Alf K. Stratte, M.D. & Margret (Schwirtz) Stratte and grew up in Pine City, MN. She married Bayliss Swanson in 1950. She was a proud graduate of Carleton College. They purchased Molitor Drug in St. Cloud, MN in 1959. They also owned the shop What Now in downtown St. Cloud. Margery earned a Master of Art degree with a concentration in weaving from St. Cloud State University in 1986. After retiring to Pine City, they helped launch the Pine City Library Foundation and supported the Area History Association. She was named Citizen of the Year by the Chamber...

Bronson Erickson of Rush City passed away Friday, July 11, 2025, at M Health Fairview in Wyoming at the age of 85. Marvin Bronson Erickson was born June 28, 1940, to Marvin and Inga (Flaa) Erickson in Rush City, MN. Bronson is survived by his children Gretchen (Michael) Cornelius of Rush City, Thad (Michelle) Erickson of St. Paul, Seth (Denise) Erickson of North Branch; seven grandchildren; brothers Ken (Lois) Erickson of New Hope, Karle (Hannah) Erickson of Eden Prairie, Blaine (Barb) Erickson of Stillwater; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Marvin and Inga Erickson; wife Lael Erickson; and son Thor Erickson. Funeral services...

DeLayne "DeDe" Swanson of Rush City passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at the age of 75. DeLayne Sharon Carlson was born April 6, 1950 in Rush City, Minnesota to Alrik and Lucille Carlson. She was the fourth of five children. She attended Rush City Schools and was crowned Homecoming Queen her senior year. On August 16, 1969 DeDe married her high school sweetheart, Larry Swanson, and together they had two daughters, Rhonda and Kristi. She started working at the First State Bank of Rush City the day after high school graduation. In 2015 she retired from Frandsen Bank and Trust after a total of 47 years in...

Helen Rigsby Hooper of Brook Park, MN went home to Heaven, April 26, 2025 at 9:27 pm CST. She was born February 21, 1939 to Earl and Mary (Teas) Rigsby in Chattanooga, TN. She grew up in Chattanooga and later her family moved to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. She was a graduate of Lakeview High School and attended Dalton Vocational School to become a LPN. She worked at Parkside Nursing Home and Fort Oglethorpe Nursing Home (now Pruitt Health) and was Administrative Director at Volunteer Treatment Center, Chattanooga, TN and DMADR Treatment Center in Athens, GA. She loved sewing, crochet and embroidery as well as her rescue cats, dogs and turkey hen Ms. Penny. Helen leaves behind her two...

Mary Forcier of Rush City passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025 at her home at the age of 81. Mary Melvina (Williams) Hanson was born July 16, 1943 to Floyd Williams and Rosella (Lindbo) Williams in Bagley, MN. She was the youngest of four children. Rosella and her husband Floyd parted ways and Rosella moved the family to Douglas, ND in 1945. Mary's mother Rosella met Joy Hanson and the family moved to a farm in Bethel, MN in 1947. From there the family moved to Columbia Heights in 1951. In 1952 the family moved back to Isanti to the Gerdin Farm. During that time Mary was blessed with three little brothers Lynn, Kenny, and Thomas, and 11 step siblings. As a child Mary was a tomboy. She...

Matthew A. Carlson, age 61, of Harris, passed away April 10, 2025, after a lengthy illness. Matt was born May 20, 1963 in Rush City, the third child (and the baby) to Dale and Joyce (Olson) Carlson. Matt was raised in North Branch and attended North Branch Schools, graduating in 1981. After high school, Matt attended Anoka Technical Vocational School for Tool and Die making, graduating in 1983. Matt went to work for Deluxe Tool in Wyoming and eventually went to work for Plastic Products Co., where he worked for 25 years. Matt held numerous positions until health issues made working difficult in 2016. Matt married the love of his life on April 25, 1987, Mary Peters. Matt and Mary purchased...

John Havel of Rush City passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 80. John Edward Havel was born April 28, 1944 to Edward and Marcella (Kubesh) Havel in Pine City, Minnesota. John grew up in Beroun alongside his two siblings, sister Helen and brother Joel, and where he attended grade school. He graduated from Pine City High School in 1962. In 1962 John went into the service where he was assigned to the 52nd Artillery. He was stationed in Germany. After the service John married Barbara and on January 7, 1966 their son Brendan was born. In 1975 John met Joan Scheele and John would say they "had a very short courtship, but it must...

Evie Simonson passed away peacefully Sunday, March 9, 2025, with daughters Connie, Christie, and loving staff by her side at Northern Pines Assisted Living in Pine City at the age 89. Evelyn Ann Klar born December 29, 1935, to Anthony "Tony" and Annie (Osladil) Klar in Finlayson, Minnesota. In 1954, Evie and LuVerne "Bud" Simonson were united in marriage at the Hinckley Lutheran Church. God blessed their marriage with 4 daughters: Connie, Carrie, Candie, and Christie. Evie was a strong, hardworking woman who would lend a helping hand to anyone. After graduating from high school in 1953 she worked at Augsburg Publishing. While raising her daughters Evie did after school daycare in her home....

Joseph "Joe" Moore of Stanchfield passed away on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at his home, at the age of 92. Joseph James Moore was born on April 6, 1932 to Joseph and Florence (Bibeau) Moore in St. Paul, Minnesota. Joe met the love of his life, Elsie, and they were married in 1958. They were blessed with eight children. The two were inseparable from that point on for over 63 years. Even after Elsie's passing Joe's love for her grew strong, always honoring her memory with a monthly Mass intention where many of his kids and grandkids attended. Joe worked his entire life as a cement finisher. He enjoyed work, fishing, farming, gardening, casinos, football, and grilling. He was an avid walker, and...

Gene Walton of Rush City passed away on Friday, February 14, 2025 at his home at the age of 87. Gene Robert Walton was born February 19, 1937 to Merton and Mildred (Doughty) Walton in Glen Lake, Minnesota. Gene graduated from high school in Hopkins, Minnesota in 1956. He then went right to work at Honeywell at the age of 18, where he worked as a draftsman for 35 years until he retired at the age of 53. On March 1, 1963, Gene married Eileen (Weber) in Excelsior, Minnesota. They lived in Hopkins for nine months until they purchased a hobby farm on Goose Lake in December 1963. It was always his dream to own Lakeshore as he always loved the water, whether it be fishing, boating or water...

James "Jim" Mevissen of Rush City peacefully passed away on Friday, February 14, 2025 at Welia Health in Mora after a courageous three-year battle with cancer at the age of 85. James Arthur Mevissen was born on July 22, 1939 to Louis and Berniece (Quinn) Mevissen in Nowthen, Minnesota. As a young child, Jim's family moved to a farm north of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. He enjoyed working in the fields and caring for the crops. In 1956, he joined the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division. Upon returning home from his service, he met Deanna Stelton, and they were married in December of 1960. To this union, six children were born: Bart, Linda, Tony, Greg, Rechele, and...

James "Jim" Mevissen peacefully passed away on February 14 after a courageous three-year battle with cancer. Funeral services for Jim are pending at this time and are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Chapel www.FuneralAndCremationService.com

Barbara "Barb" Kirk of Rush City passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at Rushseba Station in Rush City at the age of 95. Barbara Lynn Overmann was born on January 5, 1930 to Alfred and Mary (Squires) Overmann in Rush City, Minnesota. She graduated from Rush City High School in 1948. Following graduation, Barb was employed for a time in Minneapolis as a secretary. She met her future husband, Ed Kirk, at a dance. They were later married in Mount Vernon, Washington, when Ed was in the United States Navy. Barb returned to Minneapolis when Ed was sent to Alaska to serve his country. He also then returned to Minneapolis, and he and Barb began their family. Barb gave birth to four children:...

Barbara "Barb" Kirk of Rush City, formerly of St. Louis Park and a 25 year employee of General Mills, passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at Rushseba Station in Rush City at the age of 95. Pastor Manda Truchinski will officiate funeral services for Barb: 11:00 AM; Friday, February 7, 2025 with an Eastern Star service at 9:30 AM and a time of visitation and reviewal one hour prior to the service all at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rush City. The interment will take place in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis at a later date. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Chapel www.FuneralAndCremationService.com

Karen Mae (Swanson) Fletcher, 85, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2025. Born prematurely on September 20, 1939 at St. Anthony Hospital in Minneapolis to Ralph and Elsie (Goldbloom) Swanson, Karen's fighting and persistent spirit was evident from the start. She came home two months after her birth, tiny enough to fit in a shoebox and wrapped in blue. She met the love of her life, Russell "Rusty" Fletcher, dancing at the New Year's Eve party hosted by the Fish Lake Pavilion in 1957. They were married by January 1958 and together, raised three tenacious sons (Rodney "Butch," Kurt, and Tad). Through their shared dedication and hard work, they built not just a family but a legacy across...

On January 7th, 2025, the world lost a true original. Clayton Richard Olson, 50, of North Branch; formerly of Wyoming, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous 14-month battle with cancer. Clay had a gift for knowing how to do just about anything?and if he didn't, he'd figure it out and gladly teach someone else along the way. He was happiest when his hands were busy, whether it was tinkering in the garage, restoring classic cars, or riding his motorcycle or dirt bike. A man of many passions, he was a collector of both treasures and tools; a man who found joy in the little things. Above all, he enjoyed time spent with his family and friends and his beloved...