Barbara Olson

Barbara "Barb" E. Olson, 96, of Breezy Point died June 9, 2013, at Good Samaritan Society in Pine River from complications due to a fall in her home on May 22, 2013. She was born September 28, 1916, in Brooklyn, NY, to George A. and Olive B. (Harris) Elliot. The family moved to South Orange, NJ, in 1917. Barbara graduated from South Orange Maplewood High School and Upsala College in East Orange, NJ. Barb married Richard Seidler in 1940, in Sayreville, NJ. Richard was stationed on the USS Franklin aircraft carrier in the Pacific during World War II. He was killed when the carrier was attacked by the Japanese in 1945. She married Karl L. Olson in New Jersey in 1946. Together they had three children. The family moved to the state of Washington in 1954, and to Minnesota in 1963. Barbara and Karl divorced in 1965. They remained friends until his death in 1983.

Barb worked for Don Eastvold at Breezy Point Resort for one year and for the next 30 years worked in the district office of the Pequot Lakes School District. She retired in 1995.

Barb loved life, her family and friends. She enjoyed gardening and volunteering. She had a great love for all animals, especially dogs, and was a supporter of the Heartland Animal Rescue Team (HART). Over the years, many HART dogs found a loving and caring home with Barb.

Barb was proud to be a Bean Hole Queen and a Grand Marshall for the Pequot Lakes Fourth of July parade. She was the organizer for the Fourth of July float celebrating 20 years of Bean Hole Royalty. Barb was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Pequot Lakes Women's Club, Breezy Point Women's Club and served on the Breezy Point Council.

Barb was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Andrew; and both husbands. She is survived by her three children: Karl Johann Olson II (Margo), Barbara "Barbi" Lynn Olson Gravdahl (Paul), and Patricia "Pooh" Lee Olson-Zachmann (Bill); six grandchildren: Jaime, Fawn, Andrew, Karl J. III "John", Alida, Erika; five great grandchildren: Tayler, Marissa, Finley, Raya, Kylah; plus her furry friend, Mocha.

A gathering to celebrate Barb's life and a memory service to share stories will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, June 23, at Kline Funeral Home located on Lilac Drive in Pequot Lakes.

Barb requests memorials to HART, 15494 Dellwood Dr., Brainerd, MN 56401, or Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Pequot Lakes.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful people at Good Samaritan for their care and love that made Barb's transition to obtaining her wings as comfortable as possible. Barb wants her friends and family to rejoice in her life and grieve if they must, but not for long, and to remember she had a good full life with lots of love from family and many friends.