Obituary of Albert Walter Herbert Olson

Albert Walter Herbert Olson was born the third of five children (all boys) to Chris and Alwina Olson.  His formal education began in the Kipling School, but changed to “one-roomed schools” when the family moved first to Vandura, Saskatchewan and then to Oakshela, Saskatchewan.  When Albert was in grade seven, all of the five brothers were in the same schoolroom in Oakshela.  Grade nine saw his bussing to Broadview High School begin.  During high school, he joined the “militia”, now called the reserves.  Training was one evening a week and summers were spent in Dundurn military camp.

When Albert’s formal education ended, his practical education began.  Albert began working as a “section man”, maintaining the railroad tracks on the C. P. R. mainline around Oakshela.  This included learning how to pound the spikes without breaking the handle of the hammer.  It also was learning how to keep warm in the winter, as they rode on a “jigger”, a motorized vehicle that carried the tools and men, but no heater. 

 

Albert took a brief break from the railroad to run the local store, but…  when the churches closed, the families had to go to the larger towns on Sunday as well as one other day a week for meetings.  When the school closed, the families went to the larger communities for school events.  When the elevators closed, farmers had to go to the larger towns to sell their grain and buy their fertilizer and sprays.  This meant that the business disappeared and the store closed.

 

Albert went back to work at the railroad.  He moved to Indian Head where he began to be a Scout Master.  A move to Regina when he was moving up the ranks in the union, also saw that, when his parents needed to be closer to medical services, he bought a house in Regina and brought them to live with him.  Dad was there only two months before he became a resident at a Long Term Care facility, where, after four years he died.  Albert housed Mom for many years before she went into the same Long Term Care facility in which Dad had been.  She died 21 years after her husband.

In the last several years, Albert often could be seen at McDonald’s, Tim’s, the Cornwall Center, and anywhere people would gather for coffee and “solving” the world problems.  Albert passed away on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 after a short stay in the hospital.

 

Albert was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his brothers, Alfred (Helene) of Orleans, Ontario; Bill (Marilyn) of Edmonton, Alberta; Charles of Regina and Martin (Edna) of Midale, Saskatchewan; as well as several nieces and nephews, and many friends of coffee time.

 

We thank Paragon for arranging the cremation.  A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.  Remember Albert with donations to the Regina Food Bank, 445 Winnipeg St, Regina, SK S4R 8P2, The Canada Foodgrains Bank, 400-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 3H6 or a charity of your choice.