Service Information
Frances H. Olson, age 101, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Ecumen Pines Assisted Living in Hutchinson.
Funeral Service will be Friday, February 7, 2025, 11:00 A.M., at Faith Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, with interment in Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson.
Visitation will be Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 5:00-8:00 P.M., at Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
Funeral Service will be livestreamed via https://www.youtube.com/user/faithlchutch.
Obituary
Frances Helena (Danielson) Olson was born on July 3, 1923, at her parents’ farm in Collinwood Township, Meeker County, Dassel, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Joseph A. Danielson and Esther A. (Broberg) Danielson. Frances was baptized by Reverend J.I. Bergstrand on September 20, 1923, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church (now First Lutheran) in Dassel, where she was later confirmed in her faith.
Frances received her elementary school education in Steelesville School District #22, Meeker County. She graduated from Dassel High School in 1941 and from Hutchinson Teachers Training in 1942. From 1942 to 1943, she taught school in District #77 at Lake Jennie and was paid $70.00 per month. In addition to teaching, her duties included sweeping the floor and making a fire in the furnace each winter morning. Frances considered furthering her education before she met a handsome and loving 26-year-old man named Raymond while roller-skating in Cokato.
On June 30, 1943, Frances married Raymond Olson of Hutchinson at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Dassel. Their marriage was blessed with four children. For 41 years, they resided on and operated a dairy farm, now known as Raylore Farm. Frances embraced the whole dairy operation and assisted wherever needed. In 1984, they retired and moved into the city of Hutchinson. They shared 55 years of marriage until Raymond’s death in 1998.
Frances loved being a homemaker, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Frances’s church and community were also greatly important to her. Over the years, she served as a Sunday school and Release Time teacher and confirmation mentor and was on the board of Faith Lutheran Church Women. She was also a member of and volunteer on several task forces at Faith Lutheran and attended the church’s Bible study and Senior Citizens meetings. She was very active as one of the sewing/quilting ladies, and in more recent years, she enjoyed assembling the weekly church bulletins and Faith Matters newsletters. These groups helped her establish a vast network of dear friends.
Her community involvement included serving as a 4-H leader with the Lynn Hustlers 4-H Club. She also participated in the University of Minnesota Home Extension project groups and volunteered with the Hutchinson Hospital Auxiliary.
Frances was an accomplished seamstress. After her children were grown, she began quilting, creating many quilts for members of her family, particularly for her grandchildren, who each received personalized quilts from Grandma at distinct milestones: when they reached age six, upon graduation from high school, and often more as they entered adulthood. She also loved making baby blankets for her great-grandchildren, some with hand-embroidered bedtime prayers on them. Her two most recent projects included a baby blanket for her future great-grandchild and a twin-sized quilt for one of her grandchildren, completed just one month ago.
Frances enjoyed reading, was an avid Minnesota Twins fan, and challenged herself with word puzzles and Sudoku. Her family loved her homemade pies, cakes, and cookies in the countless lunches and dinners served on the farm—many of which contained fruits and vegetables harvested from her garden. Frances also raised many African violets, which she eagerly shared with others. She had a real flair for home décor, enjoyed entertaining, and loved to set an attractive table. Always creative, she was skilled in needlework and took violin and watercolor lessons.
Frances loved traveling with friends and family on trips that spanned several states as well as Canada, England, and Scandinavia. A real highlight for her was visiting relatives in Sweden in 1999 and seeing the church and home that her great-grandmother had lived in.
On April 12, 2008, Frances was united in marriage to Harold Sanken, a long-time family friend from church. They enjoyed a happy companionship in their late retirement years, which included attending each other’s family events. Frances and Harold often went to Harmony River Living Center to share dessert and play dominoes with friends who resided there. Harold passed away on March 29, 2017.
In September 2017, Frances sold her home and moved to Prince of Peace Retirement Living, where her circle of friends grew to include the residents there. Frances moved into assisted living at Ecumen Pines in November of 2023, where she resided until her death on Friday, January 31, 2025, at the age of 101.
Blessed be her memory.
Frances is survived by her children, son Loren (Laura) Olson of Hutchinson, and daughters Marlyce Lauritzen (John Christianson) of Parrish, Florida; LeAnn (Michael) Mullan of Hutchinson; and Glenna Olson (James Johnson) of Cohasset. She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Janna (Ben) Erlandson of Hutchinson; Leah (Mark) Thompson of Carver; Stuart Shrimpton of Minneapolis; Sarah (Kelly) Schmidt of New Ulm; Luke (Sarah) Olson of Hutchinson; Brittany Shrimpton (Jonathan Dahl) of Minneapolis; Lana (Robert) Beckard of Silver Lake; Zachery Mullan (Racquel Maronde) of Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; Elizabeth (Ricky) Hall of East Montpelier, Vermont; and Marjie Shrimpton of Brooklyn, New York. Twelve great-grandchildren: Tyler and Conner Erlandson; Colin and Adelyn Thompson; Aubree, Kate, and Britta Schmidt; Anastasia Beckard; Teddy, Hazel, and Ruby Frances Hall (who was born on her great-grandma Frances’s 100th birthday); and Mira Dahl. Siblings: sister Janice Crowe of Dassel, and sister-in-law Georgia Danielson of Annandale. Frances is also survived by stepchildren Cheryl Sanken of Hutchinson; Adah (Jim) Loscheider of Boone, North Carolina; Christine Sanken of St. Paul; Mark (Cheryl) Sanken of Hutchinson; Joy (Peter) Larson of Rochester; and John (Kathy) Sanken of Hutchinson—as well as 20 step-grandchildren, 48 step-great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Olson; husband, Harold Sanken; parents, Joseph and Esther Danielson; son-in-law Darryl Lauritzen; siblings and their spouses: brother Donald and wife Adeline Danielson, sister Ruth and husband Harlow Peterson, brother Lowell and wife Dorothy Danielson, brother Merlyn and wife Lucille Danielson, brother Maurice Danielson, and brother-in-law Thomas Crowe; several nieces and nephews--as well as stepson Tim Sanken; and one step-grandson, Andrew Thomas Sanken.
Geri Johnson says
We will miss her so much! Frances became one of my “moms” when we moved to town in 1968 and joined Faith Lutheran. Heaven has gained a wonderful angel! Our sympathies to her family. She will live in your hearts forever.
Geri & Ralph
Glenna Olson says
Thank you for your kind words Geri!
Glenna
Elmer vorlicek says
She would always make me smile and she is a awesome friend and sorry for the loss and I am here for the family and I am proud to know her
SANDY WRIGHT says
MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. MAY YOU FIND COMFORT IN KNOWING FRANCIS IS WITH HER LORD AND SAVIOR. SHE WAS A SPECIAL LADY AND JERRY AND I ALWAYS LOOKED FOR WARD TO VISITING WITH HER. KEEPING YOU IN MY DAILY PRAYERS. GOD BLESS. SANDY
Sue Peterson says
My sympathies to the entire Olson Family. Frances always invited my parents in for supper to visit. Everyone was well fed. She was a great confirmation mentor to Reba . She will greatly be missed. I always enjoyed our visits as well after mom and dad passed. Heaven gained an amazing angel.
Sue Peterson
Carla Horton says
My deepest sympathy to the Olson family. Your Mom was such a sweet, soft spoken lady always ready with a smile. She sure touched alot of lives in her 101 yrs. That’s an incredible run! She will surely be missed.
Kathy Stueber says
Francis was an amazing person. Many fond memories from young on with her family. She always remembered who I was over the years. She will be greatly missed.
Carolyn Kurth says
My sincerest thoughts and sympathies to all the Family and Friends who loved and cared for this special lady.
Carla Ryti says
Frances was so talented and such a lovely woman. Her faith guided her through her long life. She was a dear friend of my Mother, Marlys Ryti. I believe Frances and Mom are sharing a cup of coffee with a baked delight and once again enjoying time together.
Pat MacDonell says
What a wonderful tribute to Frances! Your family hosted me only a couple times, years ago, but I remember being well fed in the warm and inviting home I was welcomed into. My deep sympathies go out to you and your special family. She certainly left an imprint and will be greatly missed.
Glenna Olson says
Thank you so much Pat for your thoughtful words. Yes, we shall certainly miss our dear mother. I am glad you got to know her!
Bailey Sanken says
Wish I could be there to celebrate Francis’s life. She was such an amazing (step)Grandma and I will always cherish the times I spent with her! One of my favorites was when we designed and made my high school homecoming dress together! I still have that dress to this day! Love you so much Francis and you were such an amazing blessing to the Sanken Family!
Rachelle Lankford says
I am so glad that I was able to meet Deloris, Lois and Shirley’s aunt and spend the afternoon with her. Heaven has gained a beautiful soul who I know will be greatly missed here by many. Sending my sincere condolences to the family and pray that all of your many memories made of the years bring peace and comfort to you today and in the days ahead.
Leroy and Darlene Karg says
We send our sympathy to the Olson family. The service was a beautiful tribute to her and how she lived her life. I remember her telling me how hard it was to give up driving her car.
Keeping all of you in prayer
Leroy and Darlene Karg
Julie Olson Schreader says
Loren, Marlys, LeAnn & Glenna…and families….
Very sorry to hear of Frances’ passing. She was a lovely, kind lady with a beautiful smile.
Wishing you all peace and wonderful memories of a life well lived.