Gordon L. Olson, 94, of Scranton, ND, passed away on Monday, March 20, 2023, in Bismarck, ND.

Funeral Services for Gordon will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 11:00 am M.S.T at the Scranton Community Center in Scranton.  Pastor Mary Wiggins will officiate with burial to follow in Pierce Congregational Church Cemetery at 3:00 pm M.S.T.  There will be a Family and Friends Service on Friday, March 24,2023 at 7:00 pm M.S.T. at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel.  Visitation for Gordon will be from 12-9 on Friday at the Funeral Home Chapel.

Gordon Leon Olson was born February 6, 1929, at the family farm in rural Scranton, ND, to Elsie
(Stafford) and Emery Olson. Gordon joined an older brother, Howard, and later sisters Carol and Shirley
completed the family. He attended Hume School "trudging uphill both ways" and then Woodbury
School. He graduated from New England Public School in 1947. After graduation, he returned to the
family farm. He was a lifetime active member of Pierce Congregational Church.

He met a pretty young lady, Marlene Narum, who lived on a neighboring farm. One day while she was
tending to her sheep, Gordon was passing by and stopped to ask her out on a date, and the rest is
history. They were married on December 27, 1955. Gordon and Marlene were blessed with six children.

Gordon and his brother Howard, along with neighbors Glenn and Tom Powell, had a construction
company building stock dams along with other dirt work projects. However, farming was his true
passion, and he remained on the family farm until February of 2023 when he and Marlene moved to
Prairie Pointe Assisted Living in Bismarck, ND. Although he was never able to attend college to pursue
his interest of engineering because of the war, Gordon was naturally talented and knowledgeable. He
loved woodworking and used his hands for many projects including building his brother's and sister's
homes as well as an addition to his own home. His wheels were always turning on what his next project
would be.

One of his prized possessions was his Cessna 140 plane. Gordon loved to fly and would take his family
for rides on Sunday afternoons. Gordon and Marlene loved to travel and have been to all 50 states as
well as several countries. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. Camping was a highlight, and Hidden Valley
Campground in the Black Hills was their favorite place. They made many lifelong friends through these
trips. Gordon loved to visit with people and was a stranger to no one. His sense of humor and
genuineness were qualities that were appreciated and admired by those who were fortunate to have
known or met him.

Family was of utmost importance to him, and he was very proud of his large family. He would often say
"look what Ma and I started" and chuckle. Some of the special memories that his family cherish are the
many family gatherings, his famous camping-out pancakes, the allotted two pieces of bacon per person,
extending his hand for a loved one to grasp, and admiring the beautiful projects his hands had created.

Those blessed to have shared in his life are his loving wife and best friend of 67 years, Marlene; his six
children Renee (Randy) Brown, Laurie (Greg) Chuppe, Karen (Darrell) Flynn, LaVon (Rob) Horner, Scott
(Cristi) Olson, and Janelle Olson; 15 grandchildren Eliza (Eli) Bullock, Angela Brown, Jendi (Charles)
Sefcik, Jayden (Dani) Chuppe, Brittany (Nathan) Miller, Tenille (Chris) Clarke, Mandi (Cody) Wilhelm,
Jenna Flynn, Brandon (Ashley) Flynn, Brianna Flynn, Zachary Horner, Alicia (Matt) Malevich, Lindsey (Michael) Vo, Kayla (Nathan) Price, and Seth Olson; 30 great grandchildren; his sisters Carol (Lenny) Jacobs and Shirley Strehlow; and many other family members. Gordon also loved two special dogs, Kota and Bailey.

He was preceded in death by his parents Emery and Elsie Olson, his in-laws Lawrence and Anne Narum,
brother Howard Olson, sister-in-law Shirla Olson, and nephews David Olson and Tim Strehlow.
He brightened the lives of all who loved and knew him and will be dearly missed. Memorials may be
given to Badlands Ministries (Medora, ND), Pierce Congregational Church (Scranton, ND),or any
organization of your choice.