Alice Olson

Alice Olson, 85 of Aberdeen and formerly of Bristol died on Monday, November 23, 2015 at her home in Aberdeen. Her funeral will be at 10:00 A.M. Friday, November 27, 2015 at Langford Lutheran Church in Langford. Rev. Sara Sorensen officiating. Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday 5-7 P.M. ending with a 7 P.M. prayer service. Alice Marie LaDue was born February 11, 1930 in Andover, SD to Frank and Hattie (Marske) LaDue of Langford, SD. She passed away peacefully on November 23, 2015. She grew up on a farm in Sisseton Township of Marshall County. She attended grade school in Sisseton Township and graduated from Langford High School. She then attended Northern State University. She graduated from NSU with a major in Elementary Education and minored in Music and Special Education. While attending NSU she was active in the Lutheran Student Association and served as both Secretary and President during her time at NSU. She was selected as the NSU’s delegate to Boston, Massachusetts where she was on a panel of students from around the world. She worked with the LCR at the Bethlehem Lutheran church too. Alice taught in Bristol, Pierpont, and Langford over a thirty-eight year career. She taught Kindergarten and First Grade in Bristol, 3rd and 4th grade in Pierpont and 2nd grade in Langford. In the Langford School system Alice taught 2nd grade and then spent the last hour of each day teaching grade music. Alice taught music to all ages in all three schools along with her other teaching responsibilities. Alice played for the annual school Christmas Programs and many music concerts. Alice was gifted with musical talent that allowed her to play by ear. She had a beautiful high soprano voice. She played and sang for many weddings, anniversaries and funerals over the years and gave piano lessons for more than 55 years. She played for the Highlanda, Langford, and Pierpont churches. She did the children’s Sunday School opening music at both Langford and Bristol churches. Her biggest thrill was playing piano for her family while her husband, Bernard, played his guitar and the entire family sang at churches and nursing homes. On January 23, 1955, she married Bernard Olson in the Highlanda Lutheran Church of Langford. To this union six children were born, Tom (Mary) Olson of Langford, Tim Olson of Montana, Kathy Lindquist of Aberdeen, Lois (Brad) Monteith of Andover, Steven Olson of Sioux Falls, and Patty (Craig) Harms of Groton. Alice was an active church member her entire life. She was a Bible Study leader, was active in ladies circle, served as WCLA President and Circle president and church organist. Alice shared her gift of music by playing and singing at many area nursing homes over the years. Her ability to play any song they requested made her a most welcome guest at any function! Since the death or her husband in 2012, she enjoyed playing games with her friends at Bi-Centennial, she enjoyed attending Tuesday and Thursday morning exercise classes at the Aberdeen Senior Center and being a member of “Penning the Past”. She recently had an article published in the “Corncob Fuel and Cold Prairie Winters, Tales from the Good Old Days in Eastern and Northeastern South Dakota.” Bernard and Alice were active Square Dancers and even went to the International Square Dance Convention in Seattle, Washington with dear friends Lawrence and Shirley Willard. Another life highlight was winning a week’s trip to Hawaii. They even went fishing in the Pacific Ocean! Alice loved music, baking, reading, embroidering, babysitting at MOPS, and attending Christian Women’s in Aberdeen. She loved doing things with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She brought her famous cinnamon rolls, Christmas wreaths, and homemade bread and buns to many teacher meetings, classrooms, church events, neighbors and family gatherings. Alice lived her life as a blessing to so many people. She lost the sight of one eye due to a detached retina while still teaching and wore hearing aids in both ears, yet she never felt anything but blessed because she knew her wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ. She lived with Jesus Christ by her side every day, knowing that He loved her and He had a plan for her life. Her greatest wish was that everyone would come to know Jesus personally as their Savior and friend. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength! Smile God Loves You! Survivors include her children, Tom and Mary Olson of Langford, Tim Olson of Billings, MT, Kathy Lindquist of Aberdeen, Lois (Brad) Monteith of Andover, Steven Olson of Sioux Falls, and Patty (Craig) Harms of Groton; her grandchildren, James, Andrew, Phillip & Joshua Olson of Langford, Justin (Amy) Lindquist of Huron, Ben (Jen) Lindquist of Zumbrota, MN, Ross Lindquist of Yankton, Kevin (Sheila) Monteith of Laramie, WY, Aaron (Thia) Monteith of Rapid City, Kyle (Danielle) Monteith of Wallace, Colton Olson of Sioux Falls, Micah (Marissa) Harms, Groton, Jacob and Ellie Harms of Groton; her great grandchildren, Alyssa Olson of Langford, Andrew Jr. and JaKariya Olson of Langford, Peyton Small, Akron, IA, Annie Allerdings, Huron, Shelby Lindquist, Yankton, Jackson and Noah Lindquist of Zumbrota, MN, Sierra and Ainsley Monteith of Laramee, WY, Danille and Kloe Monteith of Rapid City, Asher, Easton & Evoleht Monteith of Wallace. Alice was preceded in death by her husband Bernard, parents Hattie and Frank LaDue, grandchild baby Harms, and great grandchild baby Harms.