Esther Olson

Esther Pearl Heglund Olson, age 91, passed away January 12, 2013 at Ivy Hall Assisted Living in Alpharetta, GA. Pearl was born June 16, 1921 in Winnebago, Minnesota. She was raised as the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Heglund in Kasota, Minnesota. After being graduated from Kasota High School in 1939, she briefly worked for Dr. Covell at the hospital in St. Peter, MN. On September 24, 1939, she married Mr. Clair Olson, originally from New Sweden, MN. The couple initially lived in St. Peter, where their only child, Gary, was born in 1940 and Clair began a lifelong career with the JC Penny Co. After WWII the family followed Clair's career with JC Penny Co., which took them to many homes including: St. Cloud, MN; Pipestone, MN; Jamestown, ND; Appleton, MN; Benson, MN; International Falls, MN; Chippewa Falls, WI; Hales Corner, WI; Minneapolis; MN; Bismark, ND; and Duluth, MN. It was in the Jamestown, ND that Pearl began her own career with Northwestern Bell. In 1980, the couple retired to Sun City West, AZ. They then moved to Battle Lake, MN; St. Cloud, MN; Sky Valley, GA; and finally to Alpharetta, GA. Pearl was a lifelong and active member of the Lutheran Church, as well as PEO International. She enjoyed tending to her family and pets, gardening, playing bridge and painting ceramics. She is survived by her loving husband, Clair Olson of Alpharetta, GA; a son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Arlene Olson of Duluth, GA; three granddaughters, Jennifer Bradley of Atlanta, GA, Christina Tredway of Honolulu, HI, Rebecca Flynn of Duluth, GA; as well as seven great-grandchildren. Her parents, Hilda and August Heglund preceded her in death. A visitation will be held at 6:00 p.m. followed by a funeral service on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at Cross & Crown Lutheran Church, 4276 Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd., Chamblee, GA 30341. The Rev. Dr. Gary Christensen will be officiating. A second visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 19, 2013 with a funeral service following at 11:00 a.m. at Norseland Lutheran Church, 37777 State Highway 22, St. Peter, MN 56082. The Rev. Craig Firkenstad will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local Humane Society. Arrangements by Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home and St. Peter Funeral Home - Klein Chapel.