Walter Porter Olson

Walter Porter Olson, age 89, of Garretson, died on Friday, November 26, 2010, at Avera-McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. A committal service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, November 30, 2010, at the Summit Hill Cemetery, rural Garretson. A memorial service will follow the committal at 11:00 A.M. at the United Church of Garretson. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7:00 P.M. Monday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Church of Garretson in Walter’s name.

Walter was born February 9, 1921 in Valley Springs, SD to Oscar and Jenny Ethel (Bush) Olson. He attended country school in Valley Springs before moving with his parents to Sherman, where he graduated in 1940. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1941 and was aboard a light cruiser during WWII. After being discharged in 1945, he returned to farm near Dell Rapids. Earlier this year, he was proud to participate in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. honoring WWII Veterans.

On February 24, 1947, Walter married Betty Marie Lester in Clarion, Iowa and continued farming in the Dell Rapids and Sioux Falls areas before moving to Garretson in 1960. He then worked as a heavy equipment mechanic in Garretson and Sioux Falls until his retirement in 1987. After retiring, he continued to work part-time for the City of Garretson, and was presently working part-time at the River Ridge Golf Course.

Walter was a member of the United Church of Garretson, Garretson Senior Citizen Center, Summit Hill Cemetery Association and the Garretson American Legion.

Walter is survived by his wife, Betty; sons: Daryl of Sioux Falls and Michael (Nancy) of Woodbury, MN; daughters: Sandra Pederson and Susanne (Jerry) Christensen of Garretson, Jackie (Les) Dittrich of Kasota, MN and Jan (Rick) Barnick of Elmore, MN; 19 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two great-grandchildren and two sons-in-law.