Alan Olson, 63

Alan (Beaner) Olson, 63, of Alexandria, died Monday March 12, 2012, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND.

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 16, at 11 a.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Garfield.

Alan was born November 30, 1948 to Albin and Delores (Larson) Olson, in Starbuck. He was baptized and confirmed at Minnewaska Lutheran Church and graduated from the Starbuck High School.

Beaner worked at Farmer’s Union and later with Ralph Stewart Road Construction. He served in the U.S. Army as a missile technician, and was stationed in Germany from 1969-1971.

On May 20, 1972, he was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Zwieg at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. To this union the couple was blessed with their two children, Scott and Bob. Beaner and Mary Ellen lived their first few years in Alexandria. The family has lived near Holmes City for the past 35 years.

Beaner worked at Bellanca Aircraft, Eagle Aircraft, and Alex Glass and Paint. In 2009, after 23 years as a machinist at MHC, he retired due to his health.

Beaner was a fun loving, witty guy who always had a quick answer. He had a great sense of humor, loved to tease and could make everyone laugh. He was a collector of McCoy Pottery and going to garage sales was his favorite past time. He could turn trash into treasures and was always able to sell those treasures, usually for a profit. He enjoyed hunting and fishing until his health deteriorated, but he continued to tell stories of those years with family and friends. He gave Mary Ellen a kayak for her birthday, which he loved to watch her paddle on Grill Lake. But most of all, Beaner loved to be with and hug and hold his grandsons, Spencer and Gavin. They were his pride and joy.

He enjoyed spending time in his shop doing woodworking projects. In recent years, his shop was turned into a butcher shop where he spent time with his sons, brothers and friends creating venison sausage and beer sticks. One of his favorite treats was donuts and he wasn’t afraid to ask for them. Beaner was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend whom will be greatly missed by all.

Beaner is preceded in death by: Parents, Albin and Delores Olson; sister, Shirley Robideaux; and brother, David Olson.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Olson; sons, Scott Olson of Alexandria, and Bob (Jackie) Olson of Alexandria; and two grandsons, Spencer Olson, Gavin Olson both of Alexandria; sisters, Jeannie (Bruce) Mattson of Excelsior, and Mary Jane (Roger) Ward of Glenwood; brother, Danny (Lori) Olson of Starbuck; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

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