RICHARD O OLSON

RICHARD O. OLSON

Richard O. Olson 88 of Cooperstown, ND died on September 5, 2026.

Richard Orville Olson was born in Fargo ND on June 18, 1938 and was adopted by Rudolph and Olga Olson. He grew up on the family farm SW of Binford, ND along with his sister Betty where they learned the value of family, hard work and country living. He attended elementary school in Kingsley Township and graduated from Binford High School in 1956. He went to ND State School of Science for welding and was an excellent welder.

He entered the US Army on September 7, 1961 and was discharged on March 9, 1963. After he came home from the army, he purchased the farm from his parents and started farming and ranching. In the fall of 1969, he met Nila Sandland, who was practice teaching in the Binford school, and they were married on May 16, 1970. They were blessed with two children, Allen and Darin. Richard served on the Binford School Board and also on the Binford Farmers Union Grain Company Board of Directors.

On March 1, 2001 they purchased the Westside Motel and the house that went with it and moved to Cooperstown. They ran that business until Oct. 1, 2013 when they sold it and moved into a new house in Cooperstown. He also drove bus for South Central Human Services in Cooperstown for several years and enjoyed it very much.

Richard passed away on Saturday, September 5th at the Dakota Regional Medical Center in Cooperstown, ND.

He is survived by his loving family: Wife: Nila, sons: Allen (Corina) from West Fargo, ND and Darin from Cooperstown, ND and also two grandchildren, Megan Friez (Ben) from Mapleton, ND and Joshua Olson from West Fargo, ND; and great-granddaughter Emily Frye who lives with Allen and Corina in West Fargo, ND

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Betty Allen.