Doris Iola (Holte) Olson, 104, passed away April 11, 2026. Funeral services will be held 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.

Burial will be held 3 p.m. Wednesday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Doris was born on June 25, 1921 to Louis and Dina (Davidson) Holte. She was baptized and confirmed the small rural church of South Saint Olaf Lutheran Church. Doris grew up on the family farm north of McGregor in Harmonious Township. She attended school through the eighth grade and then stayed on the farm to help her family and neighbors with cooking, especially at threshing times.

It was love at first sight when she met Clarence Olson and they were married on April 13, 1941 in Tioga. Following their marriage, Clarence and Doris owned and operated Tioga Cream Station where she worked as the secretary. After Clarence was drafted, Doris went to work at various retail stores in Williston and Tioga. In 1945, she joined Clarence in New York where he was stationed at the time. Following his discharge, they moved back to Tioga where they raised three children: Leon, Lana and Lane. During their marriage of 71 years, they lived in New York, Tioga, Minnesota, Bismarck for a year, and then back to Tioga. This was during the first oil boom so Doris was kept busy since several of the oil workers boarded at their home. They also owned and operated Esquire Men’s and Boys Clothing Store in Tioga for nine years. After that, they moved to Bozeman, Montana where Doris worked as an Apartment Manager and was also a “salad girl” at a ladies dormitory. She also worked in retail at this time. In 1970, they moved back to Bismarck where Doris worked at A.W. Lucas Company, Fashion City and Mary Ann’s Ladies Wear. In later years, Doris was the caregiver for her daughter, Lana, who suffered with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Doris’s hobbies included bowling, dancing and playing music. Doris played piano in a group with her family and they would play for weddings and dances. She also enjoyed watching sports, especially watching her grandson Tim play for the Arizona Diamond Backs and Colorado Rockies.

She was a member of Tioga Zion Lutheran Church and a member of American Legion Auxiliary.

Doris is survived by her children, Leon (Donna) Olson, Laverne, CA, Lana Olson, Bismarck, and Lane (Laurie) Olson, Florence, AZ; grandchildren, Michael (Diane) Olson, Tim (Stephanie) Olson, Cassie Cervera, Tara (Brian) Burns, Phil (Heather) McMahon, Jessie (Rhonda) Rhode, Michele (Max) Dahlstein, and Tim McElveen; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Kaylee, Ryan, Ashlee and Amelia Olson, Dillon and Christian Dahlstein, Josh Lawyer and Bobbie Lynn Rohde; numerous great-great-grandchildren; and daughter in-law, Carol (Lee) Calkins. She was also survived by several nieces and nephews who she loved very much.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence; three brothers, Leonard, Melvin and Rueben Holte; two sisters, Gladys Carlson and Helen Olson, granddaughter, Ginger Rohde McMahon; and special friend, Ione Sorenson.

Per Doris’s request, memorials may be made to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.