Until We Meet Again

Brian Lee Olson
August 4, 1951 – January 17, 2005

This evening brought the tragic news of the loss of a wonderful uncle. Brian was a midwestern dairy farmer with a love for life, and a a devotion to family. He took over the family farm, handed down to him by my Grandfather, and loved living off the land. My fondest memories of him are when he'd take me around the place while out doing chores, or send me on the four wheeler to feed the calves that he kept at the other farm (he bought the estate of my great-grandmother, just up the road, and kept many of the cows not old enough to produce there). He'd have us over every fall to go deer hunting. He loved deer hunting so much, his world stopped for four days every November to entertain buck-fever.

Brian always had such love for his family, immediate and extended. We could always count on him to be there for any family event. In fact, the last time I saw him was just a few weeks ago as he came to share in the joy of my wedding, despite the horrible weather that kept nearly a third of our invited guests away. The last time I saw him was on the way out of the hotel the next morning. My wife and I were trying to leave unnoticed, and when I saw Brian near the door, I shielded his view of me with my tuxedo, wrapped and ready to be returned to the rental shop. I got the chuckle out of him that I was looking for.

Brian was killed in a farm accident. He left the world doing what he loved. He is survived by his wife, one son, and one daughter.

It's so hard to find words. I have such fond memories of such a great uncle. I'll miss him dearly.

UPDATE: There was a small blurb today (Tuesday, Jan. 18th) in the Minneapolis Star Tribune about Brian's death.

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