Delos Conrad Olson

DeLos Conrad Olson, 76, of Rochester, died Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at Rochester Methodist Hospital surrounded by his loving wife, son, and daughter.DeLos was born to Alvin and Ingeborg (Raffelson) Olson November 3, 1935; they had eight children.He was raised in Chippewa and Swift Counties in Minnesota where he attended one room rural schools.When the farm work was done, DeLos worked as a carpenter for E.S.Hildahl in Montevideo, Minnesota for five years. DeLos moved to Rochester in 1956, where he worked as a carpenter.He graduated from Rochester Junior College in 1963.He began work for the City of Rochester in 1966.He was the Collection System Supervisor at the time of his retirement in 1996, from the Public Works Department.He was a board member of the Minnesota section of Central States Water Environment Federation and was a member of the MPCA Collection System Training committee. DeLos joined the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1953 A Battery of 175th Field Artillery Battalion in Montevideo.In 1958 he transferred to an Infantry unit, followed by a transfer to a medical unit in 1977.He attended military schools at Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Benning, Georgia; and Fort Greeley, Alaska.He completed Academy of Health Sciences US Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.DeLos is a graduate of US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1975.DeLos served in the Minnesota Army National Guard for 26 years and attained the rank of Major at the time of his retirement.One highlight of his military service was his work with the Norwegian Home Guard in their winter training in Minnesota.His fluent Norwegian conversation led to him being sought out by many of the officers and troops. DeLos married Frances Karen McCutcheon in Rochester in 1967.He and Karen have one son Bjorn (he and his wife, Michelle, have two sons) and a daughter Kirstin (she and husband, Todd, have two sons). DeLos is a member of Bethel Lutheran Church and served on various committees and the church council.He was active in the scouting program, served on the Cub Scout Pack committee, was a Webelos Leader, an Assistant Scout Master, and a Scout Master.DeLos served as Sons of Norway Lodge President and held various other positions since 1972 when he became a member of Kristiania, 1-47.He is a member of Nordlandslaget, Hadeland Lag, American Legion, life member of Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Rochester Senior Citizen Services, and Rochester Woodcarvers club. When he retired he took up wood carving.Norwegian style Acanthus wood carving was his favorite.DeLos enjoyed making things for his children and grandchildren and then added some decorative carving designs as well. He is survived by his wife Karen: son Bjorn (Michelle and grandsons Logan and Connor) of Oronoco, MN: daughter Kirstin Moerike (Todd and grandsons Shea and Keegan) of Lenexa, KS: Brothers Donald, David, Kenneth, Byron and Sister Solveig VanOverbeke.He was preceded in death by his parents: an infant sister Carol: and Brother Duane. Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 810 - 3rd Ave SE.Visitation will from 5:00 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Inurnment will be in Oakwood Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum in Decorah, Iowa. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN55901 (507) 289-3600 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com