Magnus Oscar Olson, 92, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Riverview Healthcare Center in Flandreau, SD.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, at First Lutheran Church in Brookings, SD. Visitation will be held the night prior from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2024, at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings.
Magnus Oscar Olson was born on April 13, 1932, at the Holmquist hospital to Oscar and Edith (Houston) Olson. He grew up on a farm near Roslyn, SD, and attended grade school in Independent Township. He then went to Roslyn High School and graduated in 1950. Not long after, Magnus was drafted into the U.S. Army, in 1951, during the Korean War. He was discharged on April 5, 1953, and returned to South Dakota. After the military, he worked for a roofing company and later started his own business in 1959. On Sept. 1 1957, he married Katherine Ann Hachmeister in Watertown SD. From this union, they had five children, Elizabeth, Bill, Stewart, Dave, and Kathy.
He coached little league baseball for seven years. He enjoyed trips to Canada for fishing. Magnus was an active member of the First Lutheran Church in Brookings SD. Magnus retired from his painting business in 2002. In the following years he kept busy installing window treatments for Barrett’s Furniture of Brookings. He also enjoyed going to the VFW and attended many dances over the years. He spent 19 years with special friend Betty Hochstetter of Brookings SD until her passing in 2014. In 1995, Magnus started working on his 1928 Chevrolet Imperial Landau. He has spent many hours rebuilding the wood frame and continued the project through this past year. In the last few years, Magnus went to numerous dances and went on various trips with friend, Linda McGinty. On July 29, 2023, Magnus and family attended the Korean War/Korean Defense Veteran Appreciation Day in Brookings, SD, where there was a light meal and exhibit set for public viewing of war history pieces. Magnus was then presented with the Ambassador of Peace Medal by Consul Insu Kim.
Magnus had enjoyed his life, but missed his four brothers that have passed. He is survived by his sons Stewart (Bernie) Olson of Manhattan, KS, Bill (Elise) Olson of Carson City, NV, Dave Olson of Brookings, SD, daughter Kathy (Dan) Block of Brookings, SD, 7 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind his two sisters Alice (Don) Anderson of Sioux Falls, SD, and Julia Hagen of Indianola, IA as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, fourth brothers Russell Olson, Robert Olson, William Olson, and Franklin Olson, and his daughter Elizabeth Kee.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
