Trudi Olson

About Trudi

Waltraud “Trudi” Olson, 86, of Bagley, Minnesota died on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at Cornerstone Residence of Bagley surrounded by her family.

Trudi was born May 11, 1936, in Berlin, Germany the daughter of Otto Schablowski and Herta Schablowski Schoff. Trudi attended school and lived in Berlin, Germany for 20 years.

She worked at Deutsch Bank in Berlin for two years. Trudi met Stanley Olson in Berlin in 1954 on a double date on the American Army Base. The couple got married February 4, 1956 in Berlin, Germany where they had their first child, Bonnie.

Trudi came to America for the first time in 1957, landing in New York by ship. They drove through state to state to get to Minnesota. They lived in Fosston for three years, where their second daughter was born, Monica.

In 1960, they moved to Willamina, Oregon, having their third daughter, Doris “Kim” before moving to Anaconda, Montana in 1967, where their two sons were born, Dale and Gene.

After moving to Ebro and then Bagley, Trudi worked at the Clearwater Clinic for 33 years. She also worked at her daughter’s restaurant “Great Northern Bar and Grill” for 18 years.

English was her second language and she spoke it very well. Trudi was able to travel back to Germany anytime she could to see her parents and her brother. Her parents were able to travel to Minnesota for a few trips as well.

Trudi received her American Citizenship in 2004 and was very proud to vote for the first time, although she wouldn’t let anyone know who she voted for.

Trudi’s favorite hobbies included gardening, word search, sewing, shopping, playing spider solitaire, and watching soaps and Hallmark movies. She also enjoyed traveling, especially home and to Las Vegas. She was quite the collector of owls, Hummels and bells.

Church was a very important part of her life. She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bagley, where she was very active in Bible study, and Ladies Aid.

She loved to stay busy and keep things tidy. Her famous phrase was, “Pick up that fussel!”

Trudi loved her dog “Scooby Doo,” and her favorite pastime was spending time with her children and grandchildren. The grandchildren called her “Oma” which means Grandma in German. Trudi had an especially special bond with her daughter Moni.

Trudi is survived by her daughter – Bonnie Long of Wichita, Kansas

Daughter – Monica “Moni” Olson of Bagley, Minnesota

Daughter – Doris “Kim” (Joe) Kaiser of Shevlin, Minnesota

Son – Dale (Michelle) Olson of Bloomington, Minnesota

Daughter-in-law- Kelly Olson of Moose Lake, Minnesota

Grandchildren: Nick (Alli) Long, Junelle Kaiser, Jasmine (RC Hoopman) Kaiser, Jericha Kaiser, Jayme (Patrick) Mechura, Jenna (Xavier Lopez) Kaiser, Nicole Olson, Brandi Carlson, Shane (Stephanie) Olson, James Durkin, Daniel Olson, and Jackie (Nick Jenkins) Olson.

15 great grandchildren

Trudi was preceded in death by her parents, Husband – Stanley Olson, Son – Gene Olson, and brother- Helmut (Tully) Schablowski.

memorial service

Services for Trudi

February 11, 2023

Redeemer Lutheran Church 11 Red Lake Ave, Bagley, MN 56621, USA

Visitation will be on Friday, February 10, 2023, from 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home Chapel in Bagley with a prayer service at 8:00 p.m. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held at Bagley City Cemetery.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Cease Family Funeral Home