Charles "Charlie" Olsen

Dates

Obituary

Charles “Charlie” Olsen, 81, of Mt. Vernon, SD, passed away peacefully Sunday, September 17, 2023, in Mt. Vernon. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Friday, September 22, at Salem Lutheran Church in Mt. Vernon. Burial will be in Mt. Vernon Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-7:00 PM at Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Charles Richard Olsen was born on August 4, 1942, in Mitchell, SD to Gilbert “Bud” and Pearl (Knox) Olsen. Charlie attended grade school at Hopper School in rural Plankinton. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1960.

Charlie married Roberta “Bertie” Pollard on June 9, 1962, at the Salem Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon. From this loving, sixty-one year marriage came three children: Rick, Sherri, and Kristi. Charlie was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He loved attending his grandchildren’s events and rarely missed a game or event.

Charlie was a man with an unrelenting work ethic. Following high school, he worked at Armour Creameries in Mitchell and then drove a milk truck. Beginning in 1966, Charlie worked for the South Dakota Department of Transportation in Mitchell, where he was the parts manager. He retired from the DOT in 2001 after 35 years. On top of working at the DOT, Charlie began selling Pioneer Seed in Mount Vernon in 1975 and did so until 2009. Charlie took great pride in serving the farmers of the Mount Vernon area and the trust they had in him to plant what was best for their fields. All this time, Charlie also operated the family farm. Charles was a man of integrity, greatly trusted and respected by those who knew him.

Charlie was an avid supporter of all Mount Vernon athletics and heavily involved in the community. He served on the Mount Vernon Volunteer Fire Department for over fifteen years. He also served on the Mount Vernon City Council, Salem Lutheran Church Council, and the Hopper Township Board at various times throughout his life. In 2015, Charlie and Roberta were inducted into Mount Vernon’s Heroes’ Field Courtyard for their community involvement. Charlie loved being outdoors - farming, checking field, hunting, and fishing.

Charles is survived by his wife, Roberta of Mount Vernon; son, Rick (Maria) Olsen of Mount Vernon; daughters, Sherri (Eric) Denning of Mount Vernon and Kristi Olsen of Wessington Springs; grandson, Deric (Shelby) Denning and great-granddaughter Charlie of Mitchell; granddaughters, Erin Denning (Hunter Jackson) of Parkston, Kayla (Joe) Vetter of Woonsocket and their children Audry, Hailee, and Bennett, and Kimberly (Kevin) Ball of Mitchell and their daughter Reese; and grandson Jared Goldammer of Brookings. He is also survived by his sister, Darlene (Tom) Schultz of Freeport, IL; stepbrother, Duane (Mary) Malde of Mount Vernon; brother-in-law, Robert Pollard of Mount Vernon; and his nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters-in-law, Mildred Gritzmacher and Marian Powers.

Visitation(s)

Service

Cemetery