Phoebe L. Olson
July 13, 1909 to January 3, 1997
Phoebe Olson was quiet and competent and more than adequate to any task. Sometimes the task was to take the role of pastor. At North Branch, Ontario, Canada, in the bush country about 60 miles northwest of Fort Frances, she shared the ministry with her husband, Alrick, and would handle the services when he was gone. Often the task was to nurse. Phoebe cared for the ill and delivered babies in North Branch. When one baby died, Alrick built a casket and Phoebe lined it with her wedding dress. Later she served as supervisor of nurses at Falls Memorial Hospital in International Falls, Minnesota Whatever she did, she did with Christ-like love.
At the Memorial Service in Covenant Manor, in Golden Valley, Minnesota, Pastor George Wold took us back to those days in Canada and the Falls as he spoke about Phoebe and the lives she had touched. During the ministry of the Hjalmar Gravems in the 1930s, a revival developed in International Falls starting in cottage prayer meetings led by the Gravems and Alrick Olson, who had come from Little Falls. Phoebe McGiveny was among those who came to know Lord. In 1937, she married Alrick, a knot tied by Pastor O.R. Swanson.
From that point, Phoebe and Alrick went forward together in their ministry, first in Fort Frances and then in North Branch, Ontario. They ministered as missionaries under the auspices of the Northwest Conference and with the support of Superintendent Jacob Elving.
The most important thing about Mrs. Olson for me was that she was my friend Reuben's mom. Alrick, Phoebe, daughter Norma, and Reuben moved to International Falls when Reuben and I were in eighth grade. We became best friends and Phoebe blessed our friendship. She was kind, understanding, trusting, and never said a harsh word to us.
As we biked to places like City Dock, Rube on his Rocket and I on my Roadmaster, I listened with wonder as Reuben told stories about rough days in North Branch. For example, the big, tough, mean boys would build a bike ramp, ride their hikes up and off the end of the ramp at full speed. To mark the flying distance, they impressed smaller kids to lie side-by-side. They added additional bodies until someone landed on the kid furthest out. Rube said that he always volunteered, rather than try to avoid impressment, so he could get the spot closest to the take off point. Wisely following this strategy, he avoided bike-tire treads on his body.
After their time in Ontario, the Olsons were happy, I think, to be in more civilized International Falls. Civilization or not, they always found ways to minister. George Wold made this fact dear as he guided us through the lanes of memory thinking about the life of Phoebe Olson. like Phoebe, the colleague of Paul the Apostle, she was a "helper of many and of myself as well" (Romans 16:2).
Phoebe and Alrick moved to Covenant Manor for the last years of their lives. Phoebe outlived Alrick and continued to be a blessing in her quiet, strong, gracious, and beautiful way. Blessings on her memory, and the fruits of her ministry.