Floyd W. Olson, 76, of Red Bluff, Calif., died April 13, 2008. Floyd was a Korean War veteran and was proud of his military service. He retired from the Department of Defense as a power production mechanic specialist. While attending school in Cloquet he was told by his eighth-grade teacher, "Floyd, you will never do anything in life unless it is done with your hands." Floyd apparently took that to heart. He quit school to work on heavy machinery and motors. Without a formal education he made his way to the Department of Defense of the United States Government. He traveled all over the United States as well as foreign countries as a civilian for the Department of Defense supporting our military interests. He spent time in Australia, Korea, the Philippines, Greenland, Italy, Azores, Germany, France, and several other countries. He often said. "Not bad for an eighth-grade education, huh?" After retirement, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and outdoor sports. After his retirement, he began to restore classic cars and was a member of the Ghost Riders Classic Car Club in Red Bluff.
Floyd was preceded in his death by his father, Holger Olson; step-mother, Ruth Olson; mother, Lilly Torma (Carlson); step-father, Nels Torma; his first wife, Doris Olson (Savo); and his second wife, Evelyn Olson;
He is survived by two sons, Manley (Annette) Olson of Esko, Minn., and Mitchell (Elizabeth) Olson of Auburn, Calif.; grandchildren, Maria and Milo Olson of Auburn, and Tina Olson of Esko. He is also survived by his step-children, Kathy (Garry) King, Michael (Helen) Hamilton, Keith (Cindy) Hamilton and Frank (Mary Ann) Hamilton, all of Dixon; Calif.; sisters-in-law, Marie Smith of Rancho Tehama, Calif., and Debbie Winters of Tennessee; and also many step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 19, in Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery in Esko.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests if you are so inclined to make a donation, please make one to your local Veterans of Foreign Wars organization or a veterans hospital.
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Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet, 218-879-7184. To sign the guest book and leave an online tribute, see www.northlandfuneralhome.com .
July 17, 2008
- Cloquet, Minn.
