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Delphine Olson, 98

Delphine Olson, 98, of Warren, Minn., died on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, in Maple Manor, Langdon, N.D., where she had been living the past five years.
Delphine Hagen was born on July 17, 1924, at home in Halma, Minn., to Alfred and Nancy Hagen. Her mother died when she was 4 years old and she was raised on the farm of her widowed maternal grandmother, Amanda Anderson. She walked to country school 1 mile away and attended high school in Lake Bronson, Minn.
She met the love of her life, Leonard Olson, at the Kittson County Fair and was married on Jan. 19, 1941, at the age of 17. From then until 1947, the growing family moved around as Dad found just the right job. They lived in Thief River Falls, Minn., Larimore and Whitman, N.D., Renton, Wash., and Grand Forks, N.D., before finding “home” in Warren.
In addition to raising their seven children, Delphine did the work of a farm wife at their place 4 miles west of town. She tended a large garden and raised animals including chickens, cows and pigs. She taught the kids the value of hard work by working right alongside them, though they never learned to yodel while hard at it like she did. When her youngest was old enough for school, Delphine worked for the Good Samaritan Center and as a secretary for the local dentists, Doctors Wrolson and Riley.
Delphine was woman of great faith and was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church of Warren. She taught Sunday school, was active with the Ladies’ Aide, and went to church every Sunday. In her free time, she and Leonard escaped to their place on Lake Bronson where they enjoyed their pontoon and entertaining the family. Delphine was blessed to do daycare for her grandkids and shared with them her love of playing piano (by ear) and making such memorable childhood treats like creamed-peas-on-toast or lefse.
In the final years of her life, Delphine lived with her daughter, Patti, in Langdon. Despite the slipping of her memory, she was unchanged in many ways: an endless stream of wit, wisdom and laughter. She will be greatly missed.
Delphine is survived by: six of her children, sons, Gary (Val), Larry (Bonnie), Robert (Diane) and Richard (Barbara) Olson, and daughters, Jerrilyn (Duane) Potucek, Patti (Terry) Bredeson; 17 grandchildren; a number of great-grandchildren; her best friend and sister-in-law, Florence Hagen; and her special nephews and nieces, one of whom bears her name.
She was preceded in death by: her husband, Leonard in 2007; her daughter, Nancy in 2009; her parents; siblings, Helen (Don) Kalamirr, and Harold Hagen; and daughter-in-law, Harvietta Olson.
The funeral service was held Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. in First Lutheran Church, Warren, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Warren. Arrangements are by DuBore Funeral Home, Warren. www.duborefuneralhome.com.

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