Donald Olson
Donald L. Olson, age 78, of rural Colton, S.D., passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Funeral services were April 2 at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls with Pastor Kirk Flaa officiating. Burial followed at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls.
Donald Leigh Olson was born in Sioux Falls Jan. 25, 1946, to Orval and Charlotte (Austin) Olson. He was raised in rural Colton on his family farm, where he learned the value of hard work and later returned to raise his own family. Don’s joy in life was spending time and sharing experiences with his wife, Sue, his children and grandchildren. He loved learning and education and he strived to pass on this love of learning to his children and grandchildren.
Don graduated from Colton High School in 1964 and continued his education at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., receiving a degree in Music Education in 1968.
After graduating from college, he taught music in Winnebago, Minn., before joining the Air Force in 1969. He appreciated that his drill instructors allowed him to watch the moon landing from basic military training at Lackland Airforce Base in Texas. Don was then assigned to the Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs, Colo., until he separated from active duty in 1973.
After a 14-year gap of military service, he joined the South Dakota Army National Guard Band and remained as a military instrumentalist until he was 59 years old.
During his time in the military, he traveled to Panama, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Don played oboe, alto and tenor saxophone as his primary instruments and occasionally played the bassoon and baritone saxophone. He was very proud that his grandchildren are all carrying on his music traditions through piano, band and choir. He was very patriotic throughout his life, loved his country and was proud of his military service.
After his time in Colorado Don returned to Minnesota to teach music in Lamberton. During this time, Don met and married his soulmate, Susan Stockland. They were married Aug. 21, 1976. They returned home to Colton in 1977 and Don continued to teach music in Baltic, S.D.
Don had several more jobs throughout his life, starting with being a farm hand in high school, selling Lutheran Brotherhood insurance, selling cars, doing collections at Sears Payment Systems and was original owner/operator of Black Hills Ponderosa Place in Custer, S.D.
Finally, Don decided to return to college when he was 45. He attended South Dakota State University and earned a Pharmacy degree at the age of 50. Don was then employed at Avera McKennan Hospital where he remained until his retirement in 2012. His music and pharmacy careers gave him both joy and satisfaction.
Don loved to travel and throughout his life, he had many adventures, including visiting Norway, traveling all the lower 48 states with his family and many other adventures with Sue and other family and friends. Don also enjoyed reading extensively! He read constantly and was proud that he had read the Bible three and half times. He also read the biographies of the first 45 U.S. Presidents and many other historical and political books.
Don was an avid follower of news and politics and enjoyed listening to Rush Limbaugh whenever possible. He played a lot of solitaire in the last few years and enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow up. Don loved to take children on 4-wheeler wagon rides and horseback rides and enjoyed attending their many activities, concerts and school events. He also enjoyed piloting small aircraft. Don was proud of his family heritage and he passed on those traditions and his faith in God to his family.
Don will be greatly missed by his family and friends and any who were influenced by his love of learning, music and faith throughout his life. He was an inspiration and set a wonderful example for future generations to follow.
Don is survived by his wife, Sue; his sisters, Mary Peterson and Ruth Nickel, (Sioux Falls); his children, Jon (Jan) Olson (Sioux Falls), Sonja (Greg) Delaney (Yankton, S.D.), Ana (Seth) Schurman (Crofton, Neb.) and Eric (Laura) Olson (Colton); along with his foster daughters, Patricia (Arndt) Hawkinson and Sharon (Wilson) Rosser; his grandchildren, Connor, Ally and Carolyn Delaney, Joey and Caden Schurman and Owen and June Olson; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.