Walter Olson, age 90 of Underwood, ND, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 23, 2007 at his home in Underwood.

Funeral Services: 10:30 AM Tuesday, August 28, 2007;
Augustana Lutheran Church – Underwood;
Rev. Joel Sherer, Officiating;

Interment: Bethel Lutheran Cemetery – rural Coleharbor, ND;
Military Rites provided by the American Legion Post #133.


Visitation: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Monday at Goetz Funeral Home – Underwood.
Tuesday, one hour prior to time of service at the church.

Walter was born December 16, 1916 in Malcolm Township, rural Coleharbor, ND, the son to Carl J. and Ellah (Wigh) Olson. He attended grade school in Malcolm Township and later graduated from high school in Chicago, IL in 1933. Walter returned to the family farm and enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 1942. Walter was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic service in support of operations on December 8, 1944 in the vicinity of Dillingen, Germany. During the Saar River operations, wire lines between artillery headquarters and an artillery battalion were cut by intense shellfire. Technician Fifth Grade Walter Olson voluntarily and without regard for his personal safety, crawled 400 yards under heavy observed fire and repaired the wires. Walter was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on Dec. 4, 1945 and returned to the farm. He married Ruth Home on June 9, 1946 in Underwood. Walter continued to farm in the area and in 1957 started custom combining from Oklahoma to North Dakota. He continued farming and custom combining until his retirement in 2003 at the age of 86. Walter was inducted into the U.S. Custom Harvesters Hall of Fame in 2003. Walter was active in the V.F.W., the American Legion, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Elks Lodge. Walter was an active member of the former Bethel Lutheran Church and the St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Coleharbor.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ruth Olson of Underwood, ND; & many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents.