Gary Olson

Gary "Whitey" James Olson, 70, of Red Wing died Saturday, February 27, 2010 at his home. He was born on February 14, 1940, in Red Wing to Ole and Elsie (Cartwright) Olson. He attended Burnside and Red Wing Central High School. He worked at Sioux St. Marie Corp of Engineers, Colorado Reenactment as a gun fighter, a cook at Maricopa Inn in Arizona and then for 38 years for Red Wing Shoe Company retiring in 2002. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where he was the Sunday school director and helped with the youth group. He enjoyed going to auctions, gardening and doing yard work,

Survivors include six children, Lisa (Jim) Anderson of Bay City, Melinda (Meno) Salazar of Fort Atkinson, Wis., Rochelle (Mike) Schuette of Oak Grove, Minn. Eric (Marie) Olson of Red Lodge, Mont., Kirt (Laurie) Olson of Solon, Maine and Tajhia (Pedro) Martinez of Fayetteville, North Carolina; 20 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren two sisters, Jan (Jim) Edlund of Cannon Falls and Karen Rigelman and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Carl and Richard.

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with Bishop Eric Gram officiating. Burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral arrangements are by the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.