November 6, 2019

Alice Olson

Alice E. Olson, 82, of Watford City, N.D., passed away Saturday morning, Oct. 26, 2019, at the Sanford Health Hospital in Bismarck, N.D.
Alice Elnore Jackson was born on the family farm near Sidney, Mont., on Oct. 9, 1937. Her mother, Alice Elnore Anderson (born in Minnesota of Danish parents), and her father, Andrew Jackson (born in Sweden), were married in Sidney, Mont., on Dec. 7, 1924.
Alice’s first job was blocking sugar beets when she was three years old.
Alice’s first paid job was in food services in the Sidney hospital at 13 years old. She studied nutrition for special needs and made supper plates for the patients.
She bought a car at 13 so that her mother or brothers would not have to drive her home after work.
Alice married Kenneth Martin Olson on June 10, 1956. They lived in Sidney apartments for a couple years until the first oil boom brought them to Watford City. Kyle Martin Olson was born on Jan. 12, 1958. They built her current house, expanding it a couple times with their own hands. Kyle attended Kindergarten through 12th grade in Watford City.
Alice apprenticed in a floral shop in Kansas City and opened a shop on Main Street in Watford City.
She studied several forms of alternative medicine and was a licensed Massage Therapist. She not only performed services in her home but also taught seminars throughout the U.S. and Canada.
She bought a small mobile home park and expanded it to three times its size and informally called it the White Buffalo RV Park after an oil bust emptied the park. For 40 years she landscaped, maintained, and managed the park single-handedly.
A typical day was massage therapy in the morning, ran the park in the afternoon, and built foundations for grain silos in the evening with her family.
Alice reared several abandoned children as her own with no help from their families or any government assistance. Alice sponsored about ten people to AA and/or drug treatment centers, and counseled many in AL-Anon. Alice held Bible classes, mainly for children at the mobile home in the RV Park.
Alice bought a home in Texas and was looking forward to becoming a Winter Texan.
She was preceded in death by her father, Andrew; her mother, Alice; her husband, Kenny; her sisters, Annie and Arlie; and all her brothers, Andrew Jr., Alfred, Alec, and Alex.
Alice is survived by her son, Kyle; sisters, Annie, Alma, Alda Mae, and Adaleen; her betrothed, Tom; and hundreds of people whose lives were made better by her kindness.
Friends may visit www.eversoncoughlin.com to share remembrances of Alice or leave condolences for her family. Cremation has taken place.She is keeping a light on for us in Heaven.
Her memorial service was held Sunday afternoon, Nov. 3, 2019, at the First Presbyterian Church, Watford City.
In lieu of flowers, please direct gifts to one’s favorite charity in Alice’s memory. Gifts received will be given to local charities and her flowers will be taken over to the local Senior Centers.
The Everson Coughlin Funeral Home of Williston is caring for the family.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER