The memorial service for Lenard "Ole" Olsen will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24th, at Schleicher Funeral Homes, Plainview Chapel in Plainview, MN with Rev. Dr. Howard M. Reinschmidt officiating. Burial will be in the Elgin Cemetery in Elgin, MN.

Mr. Olsen, 86, of Elgin, MN died Sunday, October 20, 2013 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Lenard Maitland Olsen was born July 24, 1927 in Bemidji, MN to Lenard G. and Bernice (Knaeble) Olsen. He attended school in Bemidji. Ole served in the Merchant Marine from 1943 to 1944 and on January 15, 1946 Ole enlisted in the U S Army at Fort Snelling and served his country proudly until his discharge on July 1, 1947. On February 4, 1949 Lenard married Lucille Spring at Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin. After their marriage they lived in Elgin.

Ole was employed by the US Postal Service and was the Post Master for Elgin from 1963 – 1980. During this time he also served on the Elgin Fire Department from 1956 – 1982, and served as Fire Chief for many years. He also was a Gun Training Instructor and a Boy Scout Master. In 1980 he served the US Postal Service as Postal Supervisor in Portland, OR until 1989 when he returned to Elgin. Ole then drove school bus for Kurth Busing, and served on the Elgin City Council from January 1, 2001 to February 2005. Ole enjoyed spending time hunting, traveling, picture taking, fishing, card playing, woodworking, in which he won the "Golden Hammer Award" for building a china cabinet. He especially loved spending his time with family.

Ole is survived by his two daughters, Judy (Norman) Peterson of Rochester, MN and Laurie Olsen of Plainview, MN; five grandchildren, Eric (Lara) Peterson, Scott (Tammy) Peterson, Kari Peterson, Kelly (Bill) Rahman, and Amy (Chad) Schumacher; eleven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Harold "Smokey" (Donna) Olsen of Roseburg, OR and Robert (Caroline) Olsen of Tillamook, OR; three sister-in-laws, Ione Jacobs of Plainview, MN, Jeanette (Donald) Quam of Rochester, MN, and Eileen Spring of Lake City, MN; and two brother-in-laws, LuVern (Susan) Spring of Elgin, MN and Milton Lund of Cherry Grove, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lucille on September 25, 1978, two sisters and two brothers.

Friends and family may visit from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23rd, at Schleicher Funeral Homes, Plainview Chapel in Plainview and one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Thursday.