Lorraine Josephine Olson, age 101, of Red Wing, Minn., passed away peacefully at her home on July 12, 2024. Born on April 25, 1923, in Red Wing, Lorraine is the eldest child of Arthur and Clara (Thiessen) Turnbell. She attended school in Red Wing.
Lorraine met Howard C. Olson at Pumplin’s Roller Rink in 1940 and the two were married on July 4, 1941. Howard and Lorraine moved to Hager City, Wis., where they welcomed their first five children. In 1949, the couple moved to Maiden Rock, Wis., where they welcomed two additional children.
Lorraine worked at First National Bank of Maiden Rock, and in 1968 was appointed United States Postmaster for the Maiden Rock Post Office where she worked until retiring in 1988.
Following the death of her husband Howard in 1970, Lorraine remained in their Maiden Rock home, moving to Hager City in the mid-1990’s, where she lived until 2018 when she moved to Potter Ridge in Red Wing.
Lorraine served as a board member for the Pierce County Food Shelf and United Methodist Church of Maiden Rock and was an active member of the Pierce County Democrats. She was an avid gardener (canning the world’s best dill pickles), amateur ornithologist, crossword puzzle aficionado, and lover of good conversation, coffee, and long visits from family and friends.
Lorraine is survived by her daughter, Sandra (Mick) Langer; daughters-in-law, Mary (Jack) Olson and Lee (Steve) Olson; grandchildren, Stephanie Sargent Fox, Kirk Olson, Tracy Olson, Aaron Olson, Simon Olson, Paul Langer, Brandon Olson and Tyler Olson; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; many nieces, nephews, and her numerous friends at Potter Ridge.
Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband, Howard; son, Howard “Art”; daughter, Karen Sargent; sons, Jack, David, Dale, Steve “Ole”; son-in-law, Jerald Sargent; grandson Brian Sargent, granddaughter Kelly Langer, brothers Buddy, Warren, James “Buzzy,” Duane Turnbell, and sisters Sally Hauschilt, Shirley Hutchson, Beverly Hardy, and Audrey Brand.
A visitation for Lorraine will take place on Saturday, July 20 from 12:30-2 p.m., followed by a service at 2 p.m. at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel, Red Wing. A celebration of life will be held from 3-6 p.m. at The Bluffs in Hager City immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to The Salvation Army of Red Wing, Pierce County Food Shelf, or Red Wing Food Shelf are preferred.
