Obituary of Millard C. Olson

Millard C. Olson, 88, of Esko, died Saturday June 12, 2004. He was born Aug. 7, 1915 in Thomson Township (Esko) to Albert and Astrid (Esther) Olson. Millard was the grandson of pioneer founders of Thomson Township. He was born and lived on the family farm in Esko, which was honored as a 'Century Farm' in 2002. He attended Duluth Jr. College and received his BS in Vocational Agriculture from the University of Minnesota. His first teaching position was in Aurora, Minn., where he taught for six months and met his wife of 61 years, Emma Lesar. Drafted into the Army, he served for three years in WWII, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he resumed teaching in the St. Louis County School system. In 1949, he returned to Carlton County where he taught Vocational Agriculture, Drivers Education and Earth Science for 29 years in the Cloquet School District. In addition to teaching, he spent his summers with his family raising strawberries and raspberries, and employed many local teenagers through the years. Millard had a life-long interest in agriculture. In high school he was active in 4-H and in his senior year won a trip to the 1933 Chicago World Fair. He was a Charter Member of the Thomson Township chapter of the FFA, the first FFA chapter established in Minn., and its last surviving member. He went on to serve as President of the Thomson FFA Chapter and the first Treasurer of the State FFA. He was a Member of the Minnesota Vocational Ag Association and taught the first girls' Ag class in Minnesota. Millard served as Chairman of the committee to save Washington School as a community center; board member of the Cloquet Cooperative; member of the AFT and MEA; Treasurer of the Retired Teachers Association; Treasurer of the Carlton County DFL and delegate to the DFL state convention. He was a lover of the earth, an avid reader, dedicated to his teaching and proud of his students and their accomplishments. He leaves a rich legacy that will be carried on by his family and many friends and students. Millard treasured his family and was a loving and hardworking father and husband. Preceding him in death were daughter Marlene Redman and grandson Andy May. Survivors include his wife Emma; daughters Corrine (David) Gobeli of Corvallis, Ore.; Wendy (Howard) May of San Antonio, Texas; Gail Olson (Erik Peterson) of Duluth, Minn.; Marsha (Brent) Terry of Marysville, Wash.; and daughter-in-love Lisa Redman of Page, Ariz. He is also survived by his sister Laura Helberg of Auburn, Wash. and seven grandchildren. The family would like to express its thanks to the staff of the Cloquet Community Memorial Hospital and Convalescent Center for their compassionate and professional care. Memorials can be given to the Retired Science Teachers Scholarship Fund c/o Emma Olson. MEMORIAL GATHERING: will be held in early August.