The Memorial Service for Kenneth E. Olson, age 80 of Bowman, formerly of Hettinger, will be held at 2:00pm Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at the Centennial Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger (former Congregational Church) with Pastor Galen Strand, officiating. Burial will be in the Hettinger Cemetery with full military honors afforded by the Johnson-Melary American Legion Post #115 of Hettinger.


KENNETH ELDON OLSON was born on March 8, 1931 to Gaylord and Beulah (Redman) Olson in Hettinger, North Dakota. He was raised on a farm located between Hettinger and Haynes, North Dakota. He attended school in Haynes and graduated from high school in 1949.


On May 29, 1953, Kenny married Naomi (Marcy) Warbis in the Congregational Church Parsonage in Hettinger. They made their home and raised their family on the farm east of Hettinger. They celebrated 51 years of marriage before Marcy passed away in 2004.


In 1955, he joined the Navy and was stationed in San Diego, California. He was discharged in 1957 but chose to stay in California until 1960, when he decided to return to farm along with his parents. He milked dairy cattle and farmed for the majority of his life.


Kenneth was a member of the Congregational Church, Eagles Club, American Legion and was an active school board member while his children were in school.


He enjoyed playing cards with his family and friends. Many hours were spent playing pinochle, cribbage, whist, hearts or just about any kind of cards you could play. He spent many hours playing racehorse pinochle with his buddies and Marcy. Over the years he had been interested in bowling, fishing and watching the boys on their softball teams. He was an avid Minnesota Twins fan. He really loved any team as long as it wasn't the Yankees.


Kenneth entered Southwest Healthcare Services in Bowman, North Dakota on July 13, 2008, where he happily resided until his death the early morning hours of November 11, 2011.


Grateful for sharing his life are his children Roger (Meda) Warbis of Upton, WY; Diana Kessel of Washugaul, WA; Kim Huber of Pierre, SD; Gaye (Ted) Obroslinski of Great Falls, MT; Jim (Christine) Olson of Ft. Pierre, SD and Lori Longoria of Harvard, NE; 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.


He was preceded in death by his wife Marcy; his parents Gaylord and Beulah Olson; three sisters, Anita Jorgenson, Margaret Oberg, Infant Karen and infant brother Eugene.