Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 272260
Title: Donald G. "Duke" Olson
Date: 11/29/1942-8/24/2026
Inscription/Marks: 11/29/1942
Summary: Donald Gilbert “Duke” Olson of Watford City, ND, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services were held August 31, 2026, at First Lutheran Church in Watford City, with Minister Matthew Rolfson officiating. He was laid to rest at Our Redeemer Cemetery in Charlson, ND. Duke was born on November 29, 1942, in McKenzie County, ND, to Gotfred and Grace (Dahl) Olson. He grew up in the Watford City area and attended elementary country school. After his dad’s passing when he was twelve years old, he stayed at the Ben Johnston Ranch, where he helped on the ranch, learned to ride bulls, and developed his love for rodeo. He met the love of his life, Sharon, while cruising Main Street. His friend told him that the Jore girl thought he was cute, and he said he wasn’t letting her go. They were married August 3, 1962, in Alexander, ND. They lived in Watford City, where they raised their three children, Nancy, Greg, and Beth. Together they celebrated 64 years of marriage. Duke was a self-taught mechanic and fabricator. He rebuilt and rigged up trucks and spent many hours welding in and on tanks. He retired from Power Fuels in 2012. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working in his shop, making many things for his wife, children, and grandchildren. He made many birdhouses, a barn for each grandchild, and rebuilt tractors. He was always in the shop tinkering, sometimes at 4 AM. If the kids said they would like something made, he had it done within a week or two, or sometimes even the next day. He was always up for a game of Yahtzee, Pinochle, Wahoo, or Phase 10, also known as the asshole game in this family. He built cornhole boards for the whole family, then became extremely competitive at it, especially against his grandkids. One of his few losses won the grandkids a jet ski. He loved watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He followed the grandkids all across the Dakotas and into Wyoming and even California. He and Sharon also took their family on a wonderful trip to Alaska in the summer of 2024. It was an adventure that included walking with the bears, riding in helicopters, lots of fishing, and even experiencing a small earthquake. They also traveled to Norway and Sweden with his brother Carl and girls. They visited where his dad came from. He did not know how to sit still unless it was for the Twins, Vikings, or a rodeo. His family often referred to him as their Energizer Bunny. If there was a weed to be picked, no, there wasn’t. He really was a one of a kind, generous, creative, loving, extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and son who will be greatly missed. He is survived by his loving wife Sharon Olson; children, Nancy Bauer (Jon) of Bismarck, Greg Olson of Watford City, Beth (Shawn) Olson of Dickinson, ND; his seven grandchildren, Heather (Mike) Mardian, Kylie (Zach) Krivoruchka, Brady (Erin) Olson, Tyler (Brenna) Bauer, Justin (Kenzie) Bauer, Cole (Tori) Olson, Bailey (Caleb) Chruszch; 15 great-grandchildren, Finn, Bennet, Max, and Claire Mardian, Rory Bauer, Dawson and Clayton Bauer, Krew, Dax, and Andie Krivoruchka, Brogan and Briggs Olson, Haylee Olson, and Miles and Collins Chruszch; his brother, Ed (Bev) Olson; brother-in-law, Dick Jore; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gotfred and Grace Olson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ernest and Esther Jore; brothers, Carl, Richard, and Alvin; and sisters, Sigrey, Shirley, and Anna.
Red ID: FND_I_79752

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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