Herbert B. Olson

Herbert B Olson, 93, of Westby, died Monday, April 7, 2014 at the Bethel Home in Viroqua. Herbert B. Olson of Westby died early Monday morning on April 7, 2014 at Bethel Home. He was born to Hans and Olga (Klevseth) Olson in La Crosse on January 18, 1921. He attended Westby area schools, La Crosse Vocational School, and then joined Mobil Oil in 1941. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Force and piloted B-17s in the United States and later B-29s in the Pacific theater of World War II. After three and a half years of active duty in the air force he returned to work with Mobil Oil. On July 9, 1945 Herbert married Doris Abelt of La Farge. While Herbert worked for Mobil, they lived in La Crosse, Rice Lake, Eau Claire and Duluth, Minnesota. He retired in 1981 after 40 years with Mobil. He also retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1981. Herbert and Doris moved back to the Westby area in 1984. He was a member of the Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church, The American Legion, VFW, Reserve Officers Association, Sons of Norway and Westby Lions Club. He served on the Board of Directors at Vernon Memorial Hospital and Bethel Home. Herbert is survived by his wife of 68 years, Doris, and their four children, Barbara Suech of Chester, NH, Deborah Liebakken of Viroqua, Brown Olson of St. Louis, MO, and Steven Olson of Falls Church, VA; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Herbert was preceded in death by his parents and his three sisters, Marion Rudolph, Harriet Wahlstedt and Evelyn Giese. Services will be held on Friday, April 11, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church where Pastor Julie Wollman will officiate. He will be buried at Westby Coon Prairie Church Cemetery with military rites by the Westby Syverson-Funk American Legion Post. The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Westby is serving the family.