Mary Louise (Olson) Olson, 87, “Mom,” “Bestemor,” “Teacher,” entered her eternal rest on Sept. 27, 2023, at Woodland Hill in Hudson, Wis. She was born on Nov. 25, 1935, to Harold Sr. and Louise (Blegen) Olson, and grew up in Spring Valley, Wis. Mary Louise graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1953 and from UW-River Falls in 1957. She married Craig Olson of Baldwin, Wis. on June 30, 1956. Theirs was a “mixed marriage:” he was Swedish, she Norwegian.
During her tenure as an educator, Mary Louise worked in Petersburg and Prince George, Va.; Elmwood, Wis.; Rosemont, Minn.; Decatur, Ala.; and finally, for 17 years as an English teacher at River Falls High School. Countless students remember the “I-Search” paper, Great Works class, Advanced Comp class, and high expectations in (and out of) the classroom.
A patriotic citizen, Mary Louise wrote countless published Letters to the Editor; served eight years on the St. Croix County Board; and volunteered many hours toward campaigns and the Republican Party. She served as an alternate delegate to the GOP National Convention in 1976; served as 3rd District Secretary; and received the Alvan E. Bovay Award. Always committed to lifelong learning, she and Craig attended 22 Road Scholar educational trips. They traveled the world extensively and enjoyed camping where “there’s plenty to do and see in Wisconsin.” She was an incredible baker and cook, a lifelong owner of much-loved dogs (and one special cat), a green thumb, a piano player, an international student host, a proud hockey and Marching Wildcat mom, and an avid Packer fan. (Days before she died, she enjoyed one last Packer victory and a Vikings loss; she stated she “loved Love”). Her students called her “M.L.”; her other favorite people called her “Mom” and “Bestemor.”
Mary Louise is preceded in death by her husband Craig W. Olson; parents Harold Sr. and Louise Olson; granddaughter Vilté Louise Olson; brothers Harold Olson and Gayle Olson; nephews Scott Olson and Chris Olson; and niece Julie Seeley.
Mary Louise is survived by her children Trygve (Erika Veberyte) Olson and Kjersti (Brian) Duncan; grandchildren Ula Louise Olson, Kaja Olson, Espen Duncan, and Marit Louise Duncan; sisters-in-law Karin Brown, Dorothy Olson, and Janice Olson; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, and students.
A memorial service for Mary Louise will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church (420 S. Fourth St.) in River Falls, Wis. Visitation will also be at church from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, and one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in River Falls.
