Bertha F. Olson

Bertha Fay Olson (née Brown), 97, died peacefully at home and surrounded by love, in rural Blair, Sunday, July 6, 2025.

Bertha was born September 15, 1927, in La Crosse, to Dwight and Kathryn Brown as the third of six siblings. Bertha graduated from Logan High School in 1946, before marrying Kenneth Oliver Olson Sr., November 8, 1947. Together on the family dairy farm, they raised eight children: two boys and six girls, and later owned and operated Ken Olson Construction & Lumberyard and the Rainbow Restaurant in Blair. Bertha’s favorite things were taking and sharing pictures, gardening, collecting buttons, reading and “guess where” road trips.

Bertha is survived by her children: Carolyn Olson (Sterling Fennell), Nancy Allen, Daniel (Darcy) Olson, Mary Olson-Back (Thomas Schiferl), Sally (Daniel) Helgeson; 17 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and special family friend, Kristy Abrahamson.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents; siblings; her husband, Kenneth O. Olson Sr.; son, Kenneth O. Olson Jr.; daughters: Darlene (Toby) Waller, Linda Olson; granddaughter, Brenda Matlock; two great-grandsons: Jackson Holmen, Devan Olson; and two great-great-grandsons: Warren (Bennett) Oser and Ozzy Dennis McCutchen.

Services will be held Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Galesville. Interment to follow in Pine Cliff Cemetery, Galesville. Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. until service. time.

Zwickey Funeral Homes, Galesville Chapel assisted the family.