Emma Olson

Emma Olson, 92, of Faulkton passed away, Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at Richland Rehabilitation Center in Richland, WA.

Burial of her cremains was held at  the Millard Cemetery, rural Faulkton at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, May 5, 2012 followed by her memorial services at 10:30 a.m., at the United Church of Faulkton with Rev. Bill Hoffman officiating.

Emma Olson was born to Ludwig and Magdelena (Singer) Rieger on October 10, 1919 near Artas, South Dakota.  In the fall of 1931, she moved with the family to a farm near Trail City.  She finished her elementary education at the Harding School.  She graduated from McLaughlin High School with the class of 1938.  She stayed in a dorm and worked for her board and room.  She attended Northern State Teachers College and earned her teacher’s certificate.

 Emma’s first teaching contract was in the Orleans School near Norbeck in Faulk County.  That first Sunday in September 1939 she met Ed Olson in the Art and Hazel Loken home, where she would stay for the next two years.  She later taught one year at the Stevenson School and a year in Corson County.

 Ed and Emma were married June 15, 1943 in San Francisco, California.  They worked in the shipyards until WWII was over.

 They arrived on the Olson farm in Faulk County in September 1945 to begin their turn at farming the farm, which became a Century Homestead in 1983.  They worked hard at this venture all their married life. This union was blessed with three children, ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren

 Emma was a member of Norbeck Baptist Church and attended The United Church of Faulkton after she moved to town. She was a charter member of the Faulk County Retired Teachers.  She enjoyed being part of the Tuesday morning Bible study.  Emma will be remembered for her love of education, being a hard worker, and bountiful table she presented.

 After Edward’s death in January 1993, she moved the house they had built into Faulkton.  In November 2003 she began to make her home with her son Marvin in Richland, Washington.  Later she moved to Richland Gardens in Richland. Her final home was Richland Rehabilitation Center.

 Survivors are Marvin (Sylvia) Olson of Richland, Washington and their daughters:  Sonya (Jason) Mounts and their children Eli and Ava of Spokane, Washington.  Heather Olson of Portland, Oregon, and Monica Olson of San Diego, California.

 Lynn (Emily) Olson lives in Framingham, Massachusetts.  Their children Rachel (Jesse) Wertheimer of Berlin, Massachusetts, Dan and David Olson also live in Framingham. Their daughter Judi Olson lives in New York City.

  Marlene (Leroy) Wiekamp live in O’Neill, Nebraska.  Their children are Adam (Julie), Zachary and Alyssa of Lincoln, NE,  Ethan(Terah) and Isabella and Isaiah of Lincoln, NE and Amber (Saby) Sarkar of Worcester, MA.

 Also surviving are brothers: Oscar Rieger of Casper, Wyoming and Reuben (Marilyn) Rieger of Greensboro, North Carolina. Sisters are Eileen Severson of Bismarck, North Dakota, Jeanne (Ronald) Jacobson of Billings, Montana.   Many nieces, nephews and in-laws also survive.

 Emma was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, her parents, Ludwig and Magdelena brothers: Otto and Albert and sisters: Hilda, Alma, Anna and Martha.