Funeral Service
10:00 A.M., Monday, August 3, 2009
Hayti Lutheran Church
Hayti, South Dakota
Rev. Randy Eisenbeisz, Officiating

Interment
West Norden Lutheran Cemetery
Hayti, South Dakota

Visitation
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Sunday at Geise Funeral Chapel in Lake Norden.


Ruth J. (Gustafson) Olson, daughter of John and Rachel (Bratten) Gustafson, was born June 6, 1917 in Hamlin County near Bryant, South Dakota. She grew up in rural Hamlin County and attended school at Garfield School. She was baptized and confirmed at Garfield Lutheran Church, rural Bryant. After her marriage to Ernest P. Olson on November 5, 1938 in Watertown, South Dakota they farmed near Hayti, South Dakota until retiring in the early 1970s. During those years Ruth worked as a cook at the Hayti School and also baked and cleaned for people in the area. She was very well known for her baked goods, cinnamon rolls, donuts and buns. Ernest died on April 21, 1974 and Ruth became a resident of the Golden Living Center in Lake Norden in May of 2003 and died there on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at the age of 92 years, 1 month and 24 days.

She was a member of Hayti Lutheran Church and Badger Lutheran Church, The Birthday Club and enjoyed square dancing and having her grandchildren visit in the summer.

Grateful for having shared her life are one son, Dale Olson and his wife Karla of Sioux Falls; one daughter, Ruth Ann Hanig and her husband Fritz of Rapid City; one daughter-in-law, Virginia Olson of Hayti; 12 grandchildren, Laura Deiterman of Sioux Falls, Carrie (Dan) Robinson of Savage, MN, April (Scott) Herrboldt of Woodinville, WA, Julie Groebner of Hayti, Linda (Ronald)Schlenker of Hayti, Kristopher (Nicolle) Olson of Sioux Falls, Kory Olson of Philadelphia, PA, Kasey (Sarah) Olson of Lincoln, NE, Jeremy Amerson of Rapid City, Shari (Gary) Epley of Tacoma, WA, Jeffrey Hanig of Pierre, Adam Hanig of Rapid City; 22 great grandchildren; two sisters, Agnes Spilde of Lake Preston, SD, Florence Brenden of Clark, SD; one brother-in-law, Roy Olson of Concorde, CA; one sister-in-law, Berniece Gustafson of Bryant, SD; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ernest; two sons, Darrell and Richard Ricky; one grandson, Bradley Olson; one great granddaughter, Gabrielle Schlenker; and five brothers, George, Arvid, Herbert, Clarence and Elmer.