Selmer Joel Olson was born November 15, 1895, in Webster County near Thor, Iowa. His parents were Ove A. and Margarethe (Lund) Olson. He was baptized in infancy by Pastor Ole Sheveland. His parents, along with the John Olson and Sam Lund families moved to Minnesota in 1901. The families bought farms west of Clarkfield, Minnesota. Selmer remembered this move and the excitement of a new home. He attended rural school nearby. Pastor O.T. Storaasli confirmed him at the Norwegian Lutheran Church. On October 18, 1930, he married a young school teacher, Lyla Sack. They farmed the home place. Three children were born: Mardell, Cecil and Lois. A special nephew who was more a son, was Edward Hanson whose own father died when he was a child. He saw the Parish Board of Education through the difficult 1930s, also driving a school bus. He was a lifelong member of the Farm Bureau, holding various offices. Also he served as treasurer of the Tyro Town Board for many years. On the Central Livestock Shipping Association he served as vice president. He had been a trustee of the Clarkfield Lutheran Church, and served as deacon the past three years. His wife, Lyla, died in 1960 of a heart condition. A granddaughter, Kristi Lynner died in 1962. Also preceding him in death were his parents, a brother Carl, sister Alice and brother Gerhard who died June 13, 1966. In December 1965, he and his sister, Agnes, moved into their new home in Clarkfield. He enjoyed good health all his life and worked hard on the farm, even this spring. He had a knack for fixing anythiing from a broken fence or motor or toy to a broken heart. His patience and generosity were limitless. Foreign missions were very important to him. Fishing was pure delight any time of the year, and he caught them for the fun of giving them away. He died as peacefully as he lived on May 23, 1967, at the age of 71 years. Grateful to have shared his life are his family: son Mardell and Shirley, grandchildren Paula, Valerie and Patricia; son Cecil and Cynthia, grandson Gregg Joel; daughter Lois and Jack, granddaughter Lori and grandson John Howard; his sisters, Mrs. Cecelia Hanson and Miss Agnes Olson of Clarkfield, Mrs. L.E. Amdahl of Northfield, Minnesota, and Mrs. Carl Anderson of Sacred Heart, Minnesota; and several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. IN MEMORY OF SELMER J. OLSON November 15, 1895 ~ May 23, 1967 Funeral Services Friday, May 26, 1967, 2:00 p.m. Clarkfield Lutheran Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Clergy Officiating, Rev. C. M. Bagaason Organist, Mrs. Ronald Donner Soloist, Mrs. Charles Fisher Casket Bearers Erling Haaland ~ Arthur Nelson Earl Steinman ~ Clarence Lund Curtis Lynner ~ Reuben Vik Final Resting Place Clarkfield Lutheran Cemetery Clarkfield, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota