Martha R. Olson, 73
Martha R. (Budde) Olson, 73, lifelong resident of Pembina, N.D., died Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Mesa, Ariz., near her winter home, due to complications of Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
Martha Rose Budde was born Nov. 13, 1950, in Grafton, N.D., the daughter of Frank and Rosabel (O’Hara) Budde. She grew up on the family farm west of Pembina. After graduating high school, she spent a short stint at the University of North Dakota before returning home to be closer to her father after the passing of her mother. Soon after, she started a job at Norman G. Jensen Custom Brokerage, where she was employed for more than 40 years.
On July 18, 1971, Martha went on her first date with the soon-to-be love of her life, David “Dave” Olson from “Out East” of Lancaster, Minn. Five short months later, the two lovebirds from opposite sides of the Red River were joined in marriage on Dec. 18, 1971, in Pembina. The couple soon started their family of one son and two daughters.
Family and friends were the most important things in Martha’s life. She and Dave spent over 53 years together creating a loving family and an endless circle of the most amazing friends anyone could ask for. There wasn’t a place she went that she didn’t know at least one person. Whether at their lake home at Lake of the Woods, Minn., their winter home in Arizona, or just traveling around Pembina and Kittson counties, she always ran into someone she knew. This tradition has also been carried on by her children. The circle of love and friendship runs deep in the Olson family.
Martha’s greatest joy came from being a wife, mom, aunt, grandma and great-grandma. It gave her such pride to be such a close part of her loved one’s lives. Grandma Martha could always be counted on to be at the kids’ events and preparing food for an army of hungry people at any number of these events. Cooking, baking and being of service to others were definitely her love languages.
While we are saddened by the loss of the matriarch of our family, we know she is no longer in pain, and is reunited with her loved ones that have passed before her.
She is survived by: her husband, David; children, Keith, Roberta “Bobbi” and Janet (Chris) Johnson; four grandchildren, Ashlynn (Tanner) Lyberg, Montana Knoll, and Ruger and Buck Johnson; great-grandson Tryunn and great-granddaughter Americus Lyberg, who was born less than a month after her passing —GG LaLa would have loved to give so much love and snuggles to her first great-granddaughter; also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins to carry on the O’Hara and Budde family names and traditions.
Martha is preceded in death by: her parents; brother, William “Bill”; sister-in-law Pearl Budde; brother, Francis “Jr”; sister-in-law, Jeanette Budde; sister, Ann; brother-in-law, Ken Dew; nephews, Dale and Robert Dew; and mother and father-in-law, Emma and Einar Olson.
The family asks that donations in Martha’s memory be made to Altru Cancer Center or the Lancaster and Pembina schools.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Hallock. Visitation will be held at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 21 with a prayer service at 6 p.m.
Online Guestbook can be found at www.austinfuneralchapel.com.
Cremation and Memorial Arrangements are by Superstition Cremation, Apache Junction, Ariz., and Austin Funeral Chapel, Hallock, Minn.
