Cecile Olson

Cecile "Cele" Frances Olson, age 93, passed away on January 13, 2026, at Westpark Village Senior Living in Billings, MT, with family by her side.

Cele was born to John and Elizabeth (Kern) Cole on November 17, 1932, in Wadena, MN. She graduated from Verndale Public School and attended the College of St. Scholastica where she earned a degree in Home Economics and a minor in Science in 1954. Cele would teach Home Economics in several public schools in Minnesota. Later, she attended the University of Minnesota to study fashion design where she met her future husband, Joseph Charles "Chuck" Olson.

Cele was united in marriage to Chuck on July 26th, 1958 at St. Hubert's Catholic Church in Blue Grass, MN. After starting their family in Shakopee, MN, Cele and Chuck bought a farm in Verndale, MN, where they started Stowe Prairie Potato Farm.

While teaching Home Economics at Eagle Bend Public School in 1971, Cele was named Teacher of the Year. ln later years, Cele and Chuck traveled to many countries including Norway and Austria.

She never officially retired, staying active by selling clothes at craft shows. She was known for making warm specialty mittens out of used sweaters. After Chuck died in 2005, Cele turned their Otter Tail Lake cabin into her permanent home, where she continued to host many happy family gatherings.

Cele joined St. Lawrence Catholic Church in 2006. Parishioners described her as kind, classy, and creative. She was a lector and faithful member of the St. Lawrence Christian Women's group.

Cele was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and siblings, Barlaam Cole and Betty Goche. She is survived by brother, Cloud Cole, of Kalispel, MT; four children, Annette (Mark) Riestenberg, Bob Olson, Elise Olson, and Catherine (Tom Frank) Olson; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and Parish Prayers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026 at Schoeneberger Funeral and Cremation Service in Perham. Visitation will resume from 9:30-10:30 a.m. followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 31 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Rural Perham. Interment will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dent, MN.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com