Harold Raymond Olson was born May 5, 1907 in Burwick, Iowa (Polk County), the son of Swan and Amanda (Vigert) Olson. He and his family moved to the Ayrshire area where he attended country school.
On June 2, 1937, Harold was united in marriage to Cleo Darr at the United Methodist Church Parsonage in Ayrshire. The couple made their home southwest of Ayrshire where they raised their children. Harold loved farming. It was his work, his passion and his hobby. He retired from farming in 1978, and he and Cleo moved to Ayrshire. Harold enjoyed visiting and having coffee with family and friends. He would keep busy by going to the family farm and helping out wherever needed. Harold loved to spend time with his grandchildren, and he made sure no one had an empty stomach. Harold was a member of the United Methodist Church in Ayrshire. He served as the Grand Marshall of the Ayrshire Quasquicentennial in 2007.
On June 15, 2009, Harold passed away at the Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg. Left to cherish his memory are his two sons: Vernon (Susan) of Dickens, IA and Garry (Mary) of Ayrshire; a brother, Russell of Spencer; sister, Florence Root of Spencer; eight grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Cleo in 1980; son, Raymond; three brothers: Axel, Carl and Ted; four sisters: Mildred Olson, Daisy Peterson, Anna Dyer and Ellen Ricklefs; and two infant grandsons: Jerry Lynn Olson and Vernon Olson, Jr.