Frances J. (Bell) Olson, born June 22, 1932 in Reeder, ND to Roy and Olive Bell, passed away on March 1, 2021.
Frances spent her first 16 years in Ralph, SD on the family ranch. She grew up with two sisters, Kathryn and Irene. Frances, being the middle child, didn't seem to get into the trouble that the other two girls supposedly did. She enjoyed riding her horse, Rainbow and playing with her dog, Sandy, and the family goat, Pete. She attended grade school at Norbeck Country School. Her high school years were spent with different host families in Buffalo, SD, where she graduated at the age of 16 as salutatorian. She attended business college in Rapid City, SD, where she then took a position working at Rushmore Mutual Life Insurance Company.
She married Dan E. Olson on September 28, 1950. Last year they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. They spent the first few years of their married life in Rapid City before moving out to the Hoover Ranch. There they raised their four children; Craig was born in 1952, Scott in 1954, Joan in 1957, and Clay in 1961. The first couple of years at the ranch she had no electricity, indoor plumbing, or water. She used to heat the house and cook on a fuel oil heater. They got their water from a well a half a mile away. In Dan's words, she was quite the woman, and she made the best of everything with no complaint.
Frances stayed busy with the ranch and raising 4 children, but she still found time to play the piano for many special occasions and give lessons to any of the neighbor kids that were willing. She made quilts with the ladies of the Newell Lutheran Church, and she participated in Make it Yourself with Wool and the Sheep Growers.
One of her greatest joys was having two of her grandchildren, Blayne and Cady, only two miles away. Oh, the adventures that they went on! Surely, there are still coffee cans full of the "precious" rocks that they had collected along the way. Even after they went off to college, they would receive care packages with their favorite cookies or Grandma's famous donuts! Frances felt fortunate having Joan live next door. Joan was her constant companion, and later in life, her caregiver. They enjoyed horseback riding in their younger years and even tried their hand at cross country skiing. Clay and Molly came to the ranch in 1988 to "take over" all the hard labor of running a ranch. However, Dan, at the age of 92 is still helping with chores and Frances was still helping at the lambing barn at the age of 72!
Last year was the first official year that she didn't assist directly in feeding the shearers!
Frances is survived by her husband, Dan; son, Scott, of AZ; daughter, Joan, and son, Clay (Molly), both of Hoover; grandchildren, Blayne (Kelsey) of Sioux Falls, Cady of Brookings, Cheryl Ann of Bridgewater, MA, and Genevieve of Albuquerque, NM; 9 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandson; and her sister, Irene (Harry) Haivala of Spearfish. She is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces.
Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Olive Bell; son, Craig; granddaughter, Devon; and sister, Kathryn.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 8, 2021 at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis with Pastor Kris Garlick officiating. The service will also be live streamed to the funeral home's website to allow virtual attendance. Burial will follow at the Hoover Cemetery.
A memorial has been established to the Castle Rock Fire Department or the Castle Rock/Moreau Hall.