Berdell Olson, age 91, of Twin Valley, Minnesota, died Monday, January 03, 2011, in the Twin Valley Living Center, Twin Valley.

Berdell was born January 1, 1920, on the Lars and Jessie Larson farm near Oklee, MN. Berdell was the middle child with an older sister Mildred and younger brother Leonard.

Berdell graduated from Oklee High School in 1937 and attended business school in Grand Forks. She then worked in Baudette and Williams, MN. In 1941 she met Elmer Olson. In 1942 Elmer was drafted and so began three and a half years of long distance correspondence. During this time Berdell worked in Minneapolis, in California, and as a riveter at the Boeing Plant in Renton, WA.

Elmer and Berdell were married February 3, 1946. They lived with Mildred and Clifford Lund in Aneta, ND for over a year and then they moved to Oklee, MN. Berdell worked at home raising their 7 children. She liked to bake and her children kept her busy. In1967 they moved to Forest City, IA. Berdell and Elmer liked to square dance, cross country ski, and go for walks. They spent part of the winters in Arkansas after Elmer retired. Berdell's mother, Jessie, lived with them for several years. Elmer died in 1990 and Berdell continued to live there until 2000 when she moved to Kanawha, IA. In 2007 she moved into the Twin Valley Living Center in Twin Valley, MN.

Elmer and Berdell had 7 children: Loree (Allen) Hanson of Waubun, MN; Alan Olson, died 1996; Karen (Tom) Francis of Jordan, MN; Nola (Terry) Rand of Kanawha, IA; Vicki (Tim) Weiss, died 2006; Vernon (Cheryl) Olson of Andover, MN; Brad Olson of Minneapolis, MN.

Berdell is survived by 5 children, 18 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at
11:00 AM in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Forest City, Iowa.