Carl Leroy "Oly" Olson, 65, of Havre, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, at the Northern Montana Hospital from complications of lung cancer.
Viewing will be from 11 a. m. to 4 p. m. today and Tuesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. His funeral service will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008, at the First Lutheran Church with Pastor Brad Ulgeness officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the graveside service. Memorial contributions in honor of Carl may be sent to 1437 Wilson Ave. For the purchase of a memorial tree to be place in a local park in Carl’s memory. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Carl was born March 18, 1943, to Maurice and Fanny (Post) Olson in Turner. He was raised in a tiny two-room house with four older brothers and went to school in Turner. Carl went to work for the Great Northern Railroad in 1963. He worked for Great Northern & BNSF as a carman for about 28 years. He retired in 1991 due to complications from a stroke. He married Mavis McCormick on July 21, 1973, in Joplin. They made their home together in Havre, and raised two daughters, Shannon and Michelle. Mavis passed away Oct. 13, 1985. Carl enjoyed being with his family. He took great pride in caring for his parents in their older days. He spent every Sunday in Chinook with them. He loved becoming a grandpa. He was there to help celebrate their birthdays and enjoyed being with them on special holidays. He just recently was over to celebrate his youngest granddaughter’s first birthday. Carl loved the outdoors. He took great pride in his yard. He always had the greenest grass, with NO weeds and lots of flowers. He always had advice on lawn care for his daughters, who did not get his green thumb. Carl enjoyed taking his family to his brother’s cabin in Echo Lake and Basin. They spent time swimming and going to the waterslides. He taught his girls how to swim. He made many trips to Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs when his folks were alive and his girls were younger. Carl was a cat lover, he always had a kitty around the house. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mavis, in 1985, and his parents, Maurice and Fanny Olson; two brothers, Clarence and Jerry Olson; a special mother in-law, Dolly McCormick, and a sister in law Denise McCormick Tempel. Carl is survived by his daughters: Shannon (Jim) Vaughn and Michelle (Jon) Hotchkiss, all of Havre; five special grandchildren: Tyler, Ryan and Kaylee Vaughn of Havre and Rose and Teagan Coffman of San Marcos, Texas; two brothers: Harold (Betty) Olson of Conrad and Glen Olson of Basin; three special in-laws: Russ (Bonnie) McCormick of Stevensvill; Bill (Vickie) McCormick and Jan (Dave) Mlinar, all of Meridian, Idaho, numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
