JUDITH “JUDY” ANN OLSON
February 16, 1944 ~ July 3, 2012

Judith “Judy” Ann Olson, age 68 of Park Rapids, MN passed away on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids.
Judy was born on February 16, 1944 in Park Rapids, MN to Ward and Elaine (Wilcox) Sartain. She attended the Nevis Public Schools, but talked of her time in Maryland when she lived there to help her sister and attended the 5th grade. While in Maryland, she was invited to Camp David, as her brother-in-law worked there, and was able to meet President Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower. This made a huge impact in her life. After that she came back to Minnesota and attended the Nevis School, becoming a cheerleader, playing the trumpet in the band and having fun with her friends. After graduating, Judy attended the Detroit Lakes Technical College and earned her Small Business Management Degree. She was the owner of the Sears and Roebuck Catalog Store in Park Rapids for 25 years, prior to her owning the store she worked at Sears for 3 years and also at the Dixie Drive Inn as a carhop. She was a member of the BPW (Business Professional Women), Chamber of Commerce and a past Supervisor for Mantrap Township. Judy met Merwyn Olson while in high school becoming high school sweethearts. They married on October 9, 1960 at the Church of Christ in Nevis, MN. They then moved to the Big Mantrap Lake where they lived for 52 years. Judy enjoyed taking vacations, going camping, fishing, snowmobiling and snowmobile races. She was a huge supporter of hockey in the area as both her sons played hockey. Judy also enjoyed figure skating, dancing, being a pageant judge and traveling around the state judging various pageants, scrap booking, gardening, sewing, reading and was an avid whist player. She loved having her many friends stop by and visit.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Merwyn of Park Rapids; her children: Carla (Brent) Haynes of Nevis, MN, Murray (Mary) Olson of Inver Grove Heights, MN and Jerry Olson of Park Rapids, MN; her grandchildren: Wendy (Mark) Krause, Scott Haynes, Kayla Olson, Coleman (Mari-Lyn) Haynes, Austin Olson, Lexi Billings Olson; one great-granddaughter, Bryn Krause; numerous nieces and nephews.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Ward and Elaine; her sisters: Connie Young, Marlene Dirks and a sister in infancy and one brother, Warren Sartain.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN with Reverend Chris Davis officiating. Vern Erickson and Clair Erickson will be singing “Amazing Grace” and “On Eagles Wings”. The honorary urnbearers will be: Jeannie Hendricks, Bonnie Benham, Judy Harsha, Marlys Schave, Mary Spurlin, Leora Harris, Judy Love and Gail Rein. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday.