Norris Olson

Lt. Colonel (ret.) Norris Olson of Grand Forks, ND, 88, died early February 14, 2025, at Edgewood in Grand Forks under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. A memorial service will be held at a later date with burial at Hoff Cemetery near Brocket, ND. 

 Norris Orville Olson was born June 24, 1936, to Jacob and Marie Olson on the family farm homesteaded by his two grandfathers, one mile west of Brocket, North Dakota. He attended schools in Brocket, graduating as valedictorian of his senior class in 1954. He was a student at North Dakota State University in Fargo for one year before being appointed to the newly-established United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO, where he was a member of the first graduating class in 1959. 

 After graduation he married “the love of his life,” Jean Lierbo. He then began his career as an Air Force pilot, stationed at various bases throughout the United States before volunteering to serve in Viet Nam in 1965, where he commanded B-57 aircraft on 165 combat missions. For his service there, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism and 10 Air Medals. 

 His next assignment was as a B-52 commander at Mather AFB near Sacramento, CA. He then moved to Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH, to complete his masters degree in Systems Engineering. He returned to California to serve at McClellan AFB. The family settled back in North Dakota for his last assignment at Grand Forks, AFB, where he was the base operational war planner. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1984 and began his second career as a financial planner for military families, with USPA (now First Command). After full retirement in 1994, he was very active as a competitive trap shooter, hunter, fisherman, family genealogist, and volunteer for various organizations such as Kiwanis, Meals on Wheels, Sons of Norway, 13th Bomb Squadron Association, and the Grand Forks Gun Club. 

 Surviving are his wife, Dr. Jean Olson, of Grand Forks; son Marc (Gretchen) and children Elise, Isabelle and Cade of Overland Park, KS; daughter Tara Olson of South Beloit, IL, and children Logan, Hunter and Reagan; sister Delores Sandager of Lakota, ND; and siblings-in-law Virginia Olson of Fargo, Floyd Anderson of Richville, MN, Alice Olson of Littleton, CO, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings Kenneth, Gerald, John and Judith; and his son, Capt. Jeffry Jon Olson. 

 The family thanks the caring professionals at Edgewood memory care and Hospice of the Red River Valley, as well as Amundson Funeral Home, Grand Forks, who have been responsible for cremation rites. 

Flowers and cards can be sent to Jean Olson.