Laura Marie Caroline Olson , 101, Nebraska, Omaha, died Wednesday, November 29, 2006, in an Omaha nursing home.

Laura was born February 14, 1905, in Lake Benton, MN, the daughter of Herman and Mary (Schleunes) Hochgraber. In 1916 they moved to Minot where they resided on Valley Street. Laura and her family moved to Deering in 1919, where her father farmed and she attended school in Deering. She attended nurse's training at Trinity Hospital, and graduated on October 4, 1928. While in nurses training, she met Mervin Olson who was tending the coal-fired boilers at Trinity Hospital.

Laura was united in marriage to Mervin Olson on June 19, 1929, in Minot. Laura and Mervin operated the Hiawatha Grocery Store at the corner of Hiawatha and Valley Street. They moved to Kalispell, MT and then to Great Falls, MT where Mervin worked for Montana Power Company and Laura operated the power company's boarding house at Moroney Dam. Later Laura was a nurse at the Great Falls Deaconess Hospital. She also did private duty nursing in Montana and Canada. In 1950, they moved to Erie, ND and operated the general store there until retirement in 1966. After retirement they enjoyed many years of RV travel and made many friends in the Airstream RV Club. In 1983, they moved to Williston to be closer to their son and daughter-in-law, Dwight and Lana Olson. In 1987, they moved back to Minot and lived in Holiday Village. After Mervin's death in 1996, Laura lived in the Parker Apartments until moving to the Brentmoor Assisted Living Center in February of 2002. In July of 2004 Laura moved to the Millard Good Samaritan Center, in Omaha, NE to be closer to her son.

Laura enjoyed traveling, entertaining, quilting, and sewing. She was a member of Elm River Lutheran Church, Galesburg, Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot, the Erie Homemaker's Club, and the N.D. Airstream Club.

Surviving family includes: Son: Dwight (Lana) Olson, Omaha, NE; and their children Danny and Crystal, Gretna, NE; Grandchildren: Timothy (Lynn) Olson, Decatur, AL; Daniel Olson, Michigan, Deborah (Scott) Ashby, Marietta, Georgia, Diana (Gary) Ashcraft, Fort Lewis, WA; Great-Grandchildren: David Lease, Alexis Jeter, Jackson Ashcraft, Olivia Olson, Joe Olson, Robert Wilson; Brother: Milton (Francelle) Hochgraber, Livingston, TX; Sisters-in-law: Olive Olson, Glenburn, ND, Audrey Hochgraber, Fargo, ND, Ruth Hochgraber, Riverside, CA; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Mervin Olson, brothers: Alfred, Orville, and Leroy Hochgraber; and son: Ardell.

Funeral: Wednesday, December 6, 2006, at 10:00 a.m., in Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot.
Graveside Service: Wednesday, December 6, 2006, at 3:30 p.m., in Elm River Cemetery, Galesburg, ND;
Visitation: Tuesday, December 5, 2006, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., in the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot
Memorials are preferred to Bethany Lutheran Church.