Russell Olson

Russell Olson

1925 to 2013

Russell Olson, 88, of Lodgepole died Tuesday evening, May 7, 2013, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 11, 2013, in the Lodgepole United Methodist Church with Pastors Ezekiel Koech and Sara Cordray officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery north of Lodgepole.

Memorials have been established to the Lodgepole United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m.

You can view the online obituary and share condolences with the family at http://www.holechekfuneralhomes.com.

Russell L. Olson, the son of Oscar E. and Ilene (Emmanuelson) Olson was born April 2, 1925, on the family farm northwest of Lodgepole in Cheyenne County. He attended grade school at the Sunnyside School, District 68 before graduating from Lodgepole High School in 1942. Russ attended Business College in Denver working as an elevator operator at the K.O.A. building to help with expenses. He returned to farm, as well a working at the Egging Company for a few years.

While on a trip with the Rural Youth Organization he met his future wife, Betty McPherson from Scottsbluff, Nebraska and they were married in the Scottsbluff Presbyterian Church on June 5, 1949.

As well as being a life time member of the Lodgepole United Methodist Church, he had been member of the Golden Fleece Lodge #205 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; the Lodgepole Lion’s Club, the Senior Citizens and had served on the Farmer’s Co-op Oil Board. Russ enjoyed horseshoes and bowling.

Survivors include his son Steven and wife Cindy Olson of rural Sidney; his daughter Susan Block and husband Ben of Lodgepole; six granddaughters, Adrienne (Josh) Tatman, Alicia (Dave) Badgett, Abbie Olson, Alexis Olson, Rebecca (Dave) Kamm and Jennifer Uhrig; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 1988; a sister Maxine Taylor; and special friends Darlene Kehl and Anne Anderson.

Holechek Funeral Home and Cremations in Sidney is serving the Olson family.