Eva "Fern" Olson

Eva "Fern" Olson, age 99, of Clark, SD, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at Avantara Care Center in Clark, SD where she had resided.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and one hour prior to services at Furness Funeral Home of Clark, SD. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 10:00 AM at the Assembly of God church of Clark, SD with Mark Cronauer officiating. Fern will play her organ on the big screen for special music one last time. A burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. All are welcome to join the family for a lunch following burial back at the church .

Fern's service was recorded and may be viewed in the slideshow below.

Eva Fern Collier was born on November 15, 1924 in Oshkosh, WI, the daughter of Fred and Ethel Collier. Fern, as she preferred to be called, attended grade school and high school in Oshkosh and graduated in 1942.

On June 5th, 1943, she was united in marriage to Wayne Olson at the The Gospel Tabernacle in Oshkosh, WI. They lived in Springfield, MO, where Wayne was stationed in the army. After Wayne was released from the army, they moved to Clark where thy owned and operated Olson's Motor Company with Wayne's father and his brother Orville.

Fern was very active in her church. She served as choir director, youth leader, and the organist for many years. Fern had a love for music and her and Wayne sang for many church and funeral services; Fern also sang on a weekly radio station when she was younger. Fern was very active in the Gideons and served as women's auxiliary as an officer for many years. She loved to entertain people in her home. She housed and fed many friends and relatives over the years. She loved cooking and baking, gardening and flowers, entertaining, visiting, and she was always the life of the party. Fern especially loved having her family around her. She loved taking care of her grandchildren.

Fern is survived by her children, James (Marilyn) Olson of Tulsa, OK, Jerry (Dianne - deceased) Olson of Clark, SD, Larry (Sylvia) Olson of Tulsa, OK, and John (Helen) Olson of Clark, SD, grandchildren Michelle (Dan) Sherman of Tulsa, OK, James (Cassie) Olson of Tulsa, OK, Lisa (Todd) Orris of Clark, SD, Jennifer Hallstrom (Matt) of Clark, SD, Kathryn Roebke of Clark, SD, Elizabeth (Chris) Hilker of Blaine, MN, David (Janice) Olson of Tulsa, OK, Mike (Fran) Olson of Sioux Falls, SD, Natalie (Jeremy) Clausen of Clark, SD, Leah (Robert) Boyd of Tulsa, OK, Elliot James Olson of Columbia, MO, 30 great grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Wayne Olson, and her siblings Larry Collier, Gerald Collier, Bryman Collier, Harvey Collier, Betty Protheroe, and her daughter in-law Dianne (Jerry) Olson.

Funeral services are entrusted to the Furness Funeral Home of Clark, SD where there is an online registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com.