Theresa Olson

Theresa Marie Olson, 94, passed away on Friday, December 27, 2024 in Edina, Minnesota. Theresa Marie Gauthier Olson, 94 years of age, passed away peacefully at her home in Edina, MN on December 27, 2024, with family and care volunteers surrounding her. She was born to Lucien Gauthier and Petronelene Gauthier nee Grant in Willow City, North Dakota. She was of French Canadian, Scottish, and Native American descent and was one of nine siblings.

Theresa, better known as Terri, Mom, and Granny, grew up near Turtle Mountain Reservation near Bellecourt, ND. Her father accepted a job in Hasting, NE at the Naval munitions' depot after its opening in 1942 and began the process of moving the family. Terri spent at least one year at a Native American boarding school which is where she adopted her robust, independent, and determined demeanor that would define her for the rest of her life.

Once settled in Hastings, Nebraska, she attended grade school and high school graduating from St. Cecilia High School in 1948 with a degree in business. She took pride in her ability to enter the workforce following her graduation and started work at a county welfare office. She was a local celebrity on the KHAS radio station and hosted "Society Column of the Air." She also modeled briefly as a hand and hat model. She was offered a position with the local TV station but opted for work with the local gas company.

From there, a long-time friend had moved to Denver and helped her get a job with the Gower Oil and Gas Company, working for Mr. Gower and others. It was there that she met United States Senator Gordon Allott's wife who invited her to come work in Washington D.C. In 1958, the independent and curious woman she was, moved to D.C. where she eventually met Donald Wayne Olson, her future husband (but not before a few innocent flirtations with the then young senator John F. Kennedy who office was nearby!).

After marrying "Don" Olson in November of 1959, he received a job offer from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and moved the family in 1974 to Minnesota. Prior to this he had served as the Chief of Staff of Congressman Ancher Nelson and was active in health policy. By then, the family had grown to five after the birth of their three children in Falls Church, VA daughters Tina Louise Olson (1968), Lori Anne Olson (1970) and son, Wayne Norbert Olson (1971).

Mom was a dedicated and proud housewife, volunteer, and part time employee for the next few decades in Rochester. She possessed a deep and abiding Catholic faith which she demonstrated in a variety of volunteer roles. She was a member of the Council for Catholic Women where from 1979 to 1985, she served as the Legislative Director for the area, receiving the Bishop's Medal. She then served with the National Council of Catholic Women. From there she worked on the Economic Equity Act for Women and was later appointed by United State Senator David Durenberger to his task force on Women's Issues for Economic Equality.

After seeing Roberta Peters, the famed opera singer at an event hosted by President Richard M. Nixon and his wife, she hosted Ms. Peters in Rochester while serving on the Rochester Community Concert Board. She also served on the Rochester Charter Commission from 1977 to 1981. From 1980 to 1984, she was appointed by Minnesota Governor Al Quie as one of two lay people on the Minnesota Board of Medical Examiners.

As an active member of the state's Independent-Republican party (IR), she volunteered for several to-be local, state, and federal elected officials including US Senator Dave Durenberger, and Congressman Gil Gutknecht. She was a founding member of the Republican Women's Club in Rochester, MN. She was a delegate to the Minnesota State Republic convention, as well as a delegate alternate to the National Convention. In 1980, she was elected as delegate to the White House Conference on the Families where she was quoted in the Rochester Post Bulletin as saying, "The family is the best and most efficient department of health, education and welfare." She was a fervent and passionate supporter of the Pro-Life movement and dedicated her life to protecting unborn children.

Later in life, she volunteered extensively with the Friends of Mayowood which she was a board member of for nine years. She decorated the Mayowood Mansion for Christmas with friends for many, many years up until the early 2020s when her health began to fail. Her many boxes of Christmas decor and ornamentation was both a fascination (and subsequent irritation!) for her children. She was an artist, surrounding herself with her paintings, decorations, and artwork throughout her life. She joined St. John's parish later in life where she met several lifelong friends.

Mom was an advocate, volunteer, robust, intelligent, and determined woman. At an early age she demonstrated independence and the importance of women's rights and was a vigorous champion of the same throughout her life. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and dedicated community member. Throughout her incredible life journey, she continued to cook (sometimes for up to 40 during the holidays!), kept house, tended to her children's well-being and devoutly supported her husband's career and his difficult medical issues at the end of this life. She loved food, art, and music.

Theresa is survived by her children Tina Olson Grande, her husband Marc Grande and their three children, Noah, Seth, and Luke Grande of Arlington, VA; Lori Olson of Edina, MN; and Wayne Olson and his husband, John Sisser, of Palm Springs, CA; and her brother, Francis Gauthier. She was preceded in death by her father Lucien Gauthier, and mother, Petronelene Gauthier nee Grant, her husband Donald W. Olson (1997), brothers, Leo Gauthier, Jerry Gauthier, Ernie Gauthier, Armand Gauthier and Marlin Gauthier as well as sisters Rosemary Gauthier and Dorothy Gauthier Sellman.

Services to be held at St. John's Catholic Church in Rochester, MN on Friday, January 10, with viewing beginning at 9:30 am., funeral mass at 10:30, and internment at Oakwood Cemetery following the mass. In memoriums may be made to St. John's Co-Basillica of Rochester, MN in lieu of flowers.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Olson family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.