Paul D. Olson

Paul Douglas Olson passed away on June 28, 2025. He is survived by his wife Kim Olson; his children Amy Olson (Aaron) and Brandon Barthel (Tasha); his grandchildren Peyton, Neveah, Colton, Jaxson, Leland, Jane, and Benz; and his siblings Craig Olson (Debbie), Sherri Truchinski (Pat), and Jeff Olson (Anne).
A time of visitation, sharing memories and saying farewell will be held at the Dare Funeral Home in Elk River on Tuesday July 8 from 4:00pm – 8:00pm. At 6:30pm that same night there will be a brief memorial service. 

Paul was born on April 4, 1967. He was much younger than his siblings and his brother Craig helped care for him as an infant. Paul’s mom Hilda started doing in home day care after he was born and he grew up around lots of neighbor and family kids. He called his sister Sherri “bugga”, looked up to his brothers Jeff and Craig, and played Chinese Checkers with his grandma Schlecter. When he was 4 or 5 years old, he locked his dad out of the car, laughing at him the whole time. As a kid he loved turtle races in Longville, matchbox car racing, and lutefisk.  

While he was still in high school, Paul started washing trucks for the LeFebvre’s. That was the beginning of a long love of vehicles. He did demolition derby at the fairgrounds, drove truck long and short haul, learned how to fix vehicles, and drove all his other vehicles hard. Paul loved camping since he was a kid. His first camping trip happened when he was 6 months old. His dad built a platform in the car and the family drove all the way to Seattle. When the family went fishing, he’s sleep on a blanket on the bottom of the boat. When he had kids and grandkids of his own, he wanted to take them camping at every opportunity. 

Paul met Kim at his favorite place Broadway Bar and Pizza when she was on a date with his best friend. He was fun and kind to her and when he slipped her a note on a napkin and asked for a date, she said yes.  

Paul loved being a dad and grandpa. He stepped up to being a father to a 3 year old Brandon and treated him like his own. When Amy was born, he was silly with joy. Over the years he’s even adopted the kids of neighbors and friends as chosen family. 

Amy always knew that he was just a phone call away. He would come running to save Amy from being stranded at work or help her move across the state with 24 hours’ notice. He always called to check in with her… or more likely to check on Benz the puppy. 

Paul always made time for family. On Fridays he would finish work in the morning and would stop everything to go pick up the grandkids to come hang out with grandma and grandpa for the weekend. He loved going to the grandkids’ sports events and cheering their name from the crowd louder than anyone else. He loved seeing them happy and most any day he and Kim were with the grandkids you would hear him say “Kim! They’re only kids!” 

Paul enjoyed all things outdoors, deer hunting, bobber fishing with Kim (until she took away his boating privileges for scaring her). He had all the tools you’d ever need – in the toolbox or in the truck. 

Paul has worked in a lot of places, and he worked a lot. He worked at Broadway Pizza, Beberg’s, Diamond’s, Pro Sports, Fish Lake Docks & Lifts, Erickson’s Automatics Manufacturing, and he even had his own side business: Paul’s Docks, Lifts, & Repairs. 

If you can’t find Paul, he’s either putting docks in the water or playing with his grandkids. He’s put a dock in almost every lake in Minnesota and that’s how so many people know him. He was a shy person, but he was willing to help anyone who needed it. 

We want to thank everyone who has thought and cared about us in this difficult time. We miss him more than words can say but with your support we will adjust to having Paul with us in spirit instead of in body.