Mark "Ole" A. Olson

Mark “Ole” Allen Olson, age 56, of Nelson, died peacefully on Friday, June 22, 2018, surrounded by family and under the care of Knute Nelson Hospice at Knute Nelson Care Center in Alexandria.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, June 29, 2018, at the Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria with Pastor Ralph Erickson officiating. Interment will be at the Carlos Prairie Cemetery.

Visitation is one hour prior to the service.

Mark was born on February 14, 1962, in Brooklyn Center to Keith and Joan (Peterson) Olson. He was the middle child of seven. The family moved to Lake Carlos when the kids were young, and Mark spent a lot of the time fishing, swimming and biking to Carlos State Park.

Mark graduated from Jefferson Senior High School in 1980. Afterwards, he continued his education at Wadena Technical College for Auto Detailing. He worked at Steinbring Chevrolet for 16 years, Viking Office Supply, Viking Plaza Mall and Pro Maintenance. He was united in marriage to Kay Fleischfresser on July 9, 1983.  To this union, two children were born, Kristi and Jamie. They raised their kids in Alexandria. 

Mark enjoyed watching wrestling with his kids, camping, being out at the lake and spending time with family and friends.  He always had to be the life of the party and knew how to make people laugh and smile without even trying. Mark would give the shirt off his back and always saw the good in everyone. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and always had loose change or a treat for his grandkids.

In April 2015, Mark started his long and well fought battle with Multiple Myeloma. Over the last three years, he received several chemo treatments and a bone marrow transplant in Minneapolis. Although Mark’s journey in life was cut short, he was very resilient, put everything he had into beating the disease and was an inspiration for anyone battling cancer.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Keith and Joan Olson.

Mark is survived by his daughter, Kristi (James) Dean of Alexandria; son, Jamie Olson of Fargo, North Dakota; three grandchildren, Alexis, Larry James, and Gracie; four brothers, Keith (Lisa) Olson, Mike (Jamie) Olson, Pete (Kirsten) Olson and Toby Olson; two sisters, Kimberly (Jon) Meyer and Mia (Frank) Olson; girlfriend, Kim Walker; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to thank the staff, nurses and doctors at the Hope Lodge, Alomere Health, U of M Masonic Cancer Center, U of M Health Masonic Cancer Clinic and Knute Nelson for the wonderful care he received.