Travis Olson

Trav Olson, 78, died unexpectedly at his home in Hendrum, MN on July 3, 2007.


Travis Bruce Olson was born December 31, 1928, in Ada, MN, to Theodore E. and Berthine (Gysland) Olson, the second of three children. The family moved to Shevlin, MN, where Trav spent his entire childhood. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in the Clearwater Lutheran Church in Shevlin, and attended elementary school in Shevlin. He attended high school in Bagley, MN, graduating in 1946. Following high school, he attended Bemidji State Teachers College, now Bemidji State University, and graduated in 1950.


Trav joined the United States Air Force and served for three years, being discharged in 1953. He continued to show his dedication to his country by being an active member of the Holland Swenson American Legion Post #434 in Hendrum.

Following his discharge from the Air Force, Trav attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis for graduate studies. It was after this that Trav began his life long career in teaching. He began teaching in Fertile, MN, and in 1961, he joined the staff of the Hendrum Public School and taught mathematics. He continued teaching in Hendrum and at Norman County West until his retirement in 1993. Trav loved the students and always had a great desire to educate. Even after his retirement from his teaching position he continued in a position as a tutor and basketball coach at Norman County West until 2003. The game of basketball was something he loved and he was a volunteer coach for elementary teams up to last season. Trav's unique skill was to convince students that they could succeed and he instilled in them the desire to succeed. His legacy will live on for years to come in the lives of those students he taught.




Trav was an avid sportsman. He loved to hunt and fish, and enjoyed the out-of-doors. He spent countless hours with parents and family members at their property on Big LaSalle Lake north of Itasca Park. Family was an important part of Trav's life and he enjoyed spending time with family members, either hunting, fishing, playing or watching basketball, playing tennis, or just visiting.


In Hendrum and the surrounding communities everyone knew who you were talking about if you mentioned the name Trav. He could always be seen at the sporting events and other school functions or visiting with people downtown or in his yard by his garden. He attended Immanuel Lutheran Church and served as a mentor to confirmation students. He will be greatly missed all who knew him.


He is survived by a brother, Theodore B. Olson and his wife Norma of Clearbrook, MN; and a sister, Valborg Olson Koehne and her husband John of Grove, OK. Travis never married but was very active in the lives of his extended family including two nephews,
He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore E. and Berthine Gysland Olson.


Visitation is on Monday from 5 - 7 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.


Funeral Service is on Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at 11 AM, in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hendrum.


Burial is in Sundahl Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fertile.