Milton E. Olson, 89

Milton E. Olson, 89, of Ambrose, North Dakota, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019.

Services were held at the Ambrose Lutheran Church, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, with burial at the Colgan Cemetery.

Milton was born and raised in Ambrose. He married Dorothy Johnson August of 1950. They raised four children in North Dakota, Montana, Alaska, and back to Montana. They later divorced. Milton married Sandra Lawson in 1990. They moved back to Ambrose in 2000 after he retired from Pacific Power and Light.

His interests were many, including photography, cross-country skiing, hockey, golf, cooking, horses, archaeology, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and art. He was well traveled, enjoying trips to China, Sweden, and (Russia with the Crosby, North Dakota, students), Israel and Canada. He organized and led 26 canoe trips down the Missouri River.

Milton started the Nordic Ski Patrol in Essex, Montana, and also spearheaded the organization of the hockey program in Whitefish. Milton played contact hockey until he was 75.

The rib cook off in Crosby was something he looked forward to every fall. Pheasants were a passion of his. Milton and Butch were always coming up with new ideas of how to raise money for community projects. He was instrumental in improving the Ambrose Park. He supported Blue Line Hockey and the Crosby Country Club.

Milton was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Swanhild Olson; and four sisters, Jean, Shirley, Rita and Kathleen.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra; brother, Roy (Marianne); and his four children, JoAnn (Ivan) Jenkins, Joyce (Scott) LeDuc, Jon (Janice) Olson and Jean Evans;, seven grandchildren, six great-grand children, two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials will be used to complete Milt’s unfinished projects, which include rewiring the Ambrose City Park building, restoring the Strandberg Cemetery and supporting the Blue Line Hockey Club.

He will be greatly missed “and the like of that.”

Stakston-Martin Funeral Home of Crosby, North Dakota, is in charge of arrangements.