Howard O. Olson , 77, Minot, died Wednesday, November 27, 2013 in a Minot hospital.

Howard was born April 29, 1936, in Fillmore, ND to Oscar and Magda (Sand) Olson. He was raised on the family farm, baptized and confirmed in the Fillmore Lutheran Church and a graduate of Fillmore High School in 1954. He attended Minot Business College and later the School of Automation in Des Moines, Iowa.

Howard was united in marriage to Marlene Tofte of Wolford, ND on August 27, 1960. Minot has been their home since his honorable discharge from the US Army in 1965.

He started Howard and Associates Realty. They specialized in the building and selling many homes and commercial properties in Minot and the surrounding areas for many years.

In his retirement years, Howard enjoyed reading, writing stories of growing up on the farm and was often found baking lefse and pies. He always completed the daily cross word puzzle in the paper and was never asked twice to get in a game of pinochle. He loved animals, especially his five American Eskimo dogs, which split time over the years with his little cat, 'Boots.'

Howard was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, and also shared memberships through the years to the Minot Elks, Minot Eagles Aerie, American Legion and Moose Lodge, all of Minot. He will be dearly missed by all who shared in his life.

Surviving family includes loving wife of 53 years, Marlene, Minot; sister, Betty Randle; brother, Vernon Olson; brother-in-law, Elden Tofte and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Connie Olson.

Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment: Persilla Watts Cemetery, Rugby, later in the spring of 2014
Visitation: Monday, December 2, 2013 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.