Obituary of The Reverend Alice Olson

The Reverend Alice Olson- loving wife, mother, sister and friend- died peacefully at her Clover Valley home southwest of Two Harbors on September 21, 2019 at age 72.

She was known and loved by many for her ministry as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church and as Chaplin at the Lakeshore Home, Duluth, from which she retired in 2018.

She was born Alice Ingrid Pylkkanen to Walter and Ina Pylkkanen on July 31, 1947, graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1965, and was ordained a deacon at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Minneapolis, on June 17, 2001 following four years of preparation.

Alice married Quentin Olson on July 2, 1966 and immediately became an Army wife during Quentin’s Vietnam combat tour and afterwards at Ft. Hood, Texas which initiated their 53 years of marriage.  Following their service years, she worked at the Duluth Police Department and other jobs, and together they raised a daughter and two sons while working and volunteering in Duluth, then St. Louis, and back in Duluth.

Following her 18 years of ministry, she is cherished by countless individuals and families for her consoling memorial services and counseling, uplifting Sunday services, and voluntary work with Altrusa and other groups.  Her calling came as a natural acceptance of all without judgement and devotion to community.  

She was an avid reader of topics of spiritual, social, and historical significance. She also loved to take sauna and dips in the creek, embracing the spirituality of her Finnish heritage and the family homestead. When younger she enjoyed curling, cross-country skiing, camping, sailing, and taking long drives through the backroads of Minnesota.

In addition to Quentin, she is survived by her brother Don Pylkkanen, St. Paul; daughter Alissa Larsen, Superior; sons Philip Olson, Crystal, and Dane Olson, St. Paul; grandchildren Rachael Olson, Emma, and Mason Larsen; great grandson Cayden Olson; cousins Jeanette Laine, Duluth, Anna-Marie Dennhardt and Ricky Sklazeski, Thunder Bay, and Irene Poola, Hibbing; and niece Briana Johnston and grandnephew Wally Johnston, Eagan.

Visitation: 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Memorial Service, Saturday, October 5^th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1710 E Superior St, in Duluth.

Any gifts of money will go to the Bishop Brian Prior Youth Scholarship Fund.

Arrangements entrusted to Bell Brothers Jarvi Dowd Funeral Home.