Vernita Olson

Vernita Jean Bergsrud was born on February 8, 1932 in McVille ND to Lars and Caroline (Klefstad) Bergsrud. Vernita died on January 2, 2015 in McVille ND.

Vernita was raised in Pekin ND and graduated as valedictorian of her class from Pekin High School in 1950. While in high school, she was a pianist in the Pekin Lutheran Church. After graduation, she completed a 6 week summer teaching course and taught rural school around Pekin ND. Vernita married Willard Olson on October 29, 1954. She obtained her 2 year teaching degree from Mayville State Teachers College and taught school at Mayville ND and Hillsboro ND. Willard’s position as an educator and Superintendent of Schools took them to Barrett MN where Vernita also taught school. Willard’s job took the family to other cities around Minnesota including Garden City where they had a son (Randy), Byron where they had another son (Ross), and Little Falls. The family spent 22 years in Lake City, where Vernita decided she wanted to work again. She spent many years at Jostens in Red Wing MN and retired in 1992. Vernita and Willard spent the next 20 years spending their summers at their lake house near Aitkin MN and winters in the various locations in the southern United States. They moved to McVille North Dakota in 2012.

Vernita was known for her ability and joy in making many different types of arts and crafts. She was accomplished in crocheting, wheat weaving, sewing, spinning her own yarn, macramAC., dip n drape dolls, refinishing furniture, and hand stitching quilts. Her family enjoyed her cooking and baking, especially lefse, krumkake, flat bread and rosettes.

Vernita is survived by her husband of 60 years, sons Randal (Jodi) of Minnewaukan ND and Ross (Bill Hudson) of Minneapolis MN, grandchildren Tony (Jessica) Olson of Thief River Falls MN, Abbey (Adam) Landgren of Thief River Falls MN, Mateo Olson and Arecelia Olson of Minneapolis MN, great grandchildren Brody, Madisyn, Makson and Joette, sister Louine Close of Phoenix AZ, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Ada Smith and brother Arthur Bergsrud.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, January 8, 2015 at 1 p.m. in Sheyenne Lutheran Church, rural Pekin, ND. Interment will be in the spring in the church cemetery.