Kyle L. Olson, age 28, of Parkers Prairie, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, due to injuries sustained in a farming accident.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church with Rev. Ben Dyrhaug officiating. Private family interment will take place at the Swedish Lutheran Cemetery, Parkers Prairie.
Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m., Monday, May 13, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church and will continue one hour prior to the service.
Paul Harvey told us that “on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need a caretaker”…somebody who would bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh, and then sigh, and then reply with smiling eyes, when his son says that he wants to spend his life “doing what dad does” So God made a Farmer and blessed him with a son.
Kyle Laverne Olson was born on July 13, 1995, to Joyce (Wark) Olson and the late Bruce Olson. He was baptized and confirmed at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie. Kyle attended Parkers Prairie High School and was a graduate of Ridgewater Community College in Willmar.
Few are lucky enough to have been born with their vocation predestined. Kyle was one such man. Born a farmer, his hobbies and activities tied him ever closer to the land his family had farmed for nearly 40 years, complete with a loyalty to John Deere tractors and Ford trucks. In high school, Kyle was a member of the Spruce Hill Rangers 4-H Club raising and showing turkeys, pigs, and cattle at the Douglas County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair and was a Parkers Prairie FFA Chapter member whose dedication to farming would earn him State Degree, Star Chapter Farmer, and a Star Chapter Placement honors. When those closest to him were able to tear him away from the farm for a few moments, he enjoyed hunting with his sister Chelsea, and spending time with his friends snowmobiling, trap shooting, listening to country music, attending rodeos, and the occasional get out of town adventure.
The many people lucky to have known Kyle knew him by his teasing nature, infectious smile, and his soft heart. His love of animals was no more evident than in his care and dedication to the spaniels at his side during chores and riding along in the front seat of his truck.
At too young of an age, his father retired from farming to join the Lord and Kyle carried on the Olson farming tradition doing what his dad had done. Including carrying on the tradition of bringing his grandmother Bev an annual May Day cake and being swarmed by daycare kids demanding a hug or a high five. His mother Joyce, worried about the quietness of the house without Bruce’s pranks and humor would have no such peace as Kyle established a tradition each morning of throwing open the door and calling “Where’s the crazy lady?” sending the spaniels flying through the house in search of her. His ability to tease those he loved knew no bounds and was honed by his sister Chelsea who established early that the teasing would always be reciprocated.
Time spent tending the fields, feeding livestock, and talking farming with his father Bruce and uncle Gary was Kyle’s first love. There was never doubt that the time spent in the tractor left him filled with joy and pride even during the most trying times, could not take the smile from his face. Those worried that Kyle spent too much time on the farm needed only to view the nearly daily videos and photos he sent friends and family documenting his excitement for a successful send off to a load of turkeys, the first crust of field being broken for the season, or the pride only a father can have showing off a newborn shorthorn calf.
On May 7, 2024, God looked from his heavens to his paradise and said, “I need someone to sit with a retired farmer, who will talk about farming, roughhouse, and laugh. Someone who will work beside him as he tends his heavenly fields and cares for his flocks.” So God brought home a farmer.
He was preceded in death by his dad, Bruce; maternal grandparents, Wallace and Viola Wark; paternal grandpa, Laverne Olson; aunts and uncles, Ronald Wark, Richard Wark, Walter Wark, Carol Wark, James Wark, Nancy Wark, and Patricia Ellwanger; second cousin, Bryton Trosdahl; and spaniels, Lacey, Tinker, and Betty Lou.
Kyle is survived by his mom, Joyce Olson; sister, Chelsea (Arnie) Nelson; grandma, Beverly Olson; aunts and uncles, Linda (Dick) Trosdahl, Gary (Kathee Carlson) Olson, Barb (John) Hautla, Kathy (Karl Zimmerman) Davis, Annie Wark, Jeff Wark, and Bruce Wark; cousins, Rob (Tammy) Trosdahl, Laura (Jake) Grefsrud, Charlie Olson, John Davis, Jason Davis, Sarah (Kevin) Nelson, Tanya (Scott Korkowski) Makela, Marcus (Heather) Hautla, Pam (Shon) Bradley, Matt (Nina) Wark, Jo Marie (Terry) Hansen and Dan Ellwanger; second cousins, Aksel, Blair, Theo, Ryker, Bella, Kylie, Liam, Austin, Mason, Cole, Asher, Bailee, Bowen, Alannah, and Zailey; spaniel, Henry; along with many friends.
Pallbearers are Brandon Schroeder, Jake Suchy, Trent Hagen, Will Schroeder, Michael Kalpin, Dan Ellwanger, Matt Wark, and Rob Trosdahl. Honorary pallbearers are Cory Dockendorf, Brett Petersen, Anthony “Wash” Anker, Sidnee Olson, and Martin Lee.
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