Bettye Olson

Bettye Olson recognized as one of most influential Minnesota artists of the twentieth century with exceptional art of abstract expressionist oil and watercolor paintings passed away peacefully of natural causes on Sunday evening, April 16th.

Bettye of St. Paul, Minnesota is survived by her children: daughter, Martha Olson of Shoshone, ID (husband, Rod Carlson); son, Jeff Olson of Eden Prairie, MN (wife, Susan Olson); daughter, Barbara Moorhead of Sparta, WI (husband, Jim Moorhead); granddaughters, Elise Shaw of Hayward, WI ,(husband, Josh Shaw), Laura Curry, Missoula, MT (husband, Bryan Curry), and Anna Moorhead, of Chicago, IL (fiancé, David Prager); great grandchildren: Frances Curry, Emersyn Shaw, and Amelia Curry; sisters-in-laws, Betty Olson, and Margaret Lowe; and many nieces and nephews, and many Norwegian cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Howard E. Olson (passed away in 2010 at age 89); parents: mother, Irene Johnson, and father, Emil Johnson; her daughter, Virginia Olson; her brothers, Robert Johnson of Seattle, WA; and Bruce Johnson of San Diego, CA. In July of 1949 Bettye married Howard Olson and they made their home in Mendota Heights, Minnesota raising their four children.

Bettye Olson was born in Minneapolis and grew up on the east edge of the Lake Nokomis Park. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in January 1941. Bettye attended the University of Minnesota receiving her B.S. degree in Art Education in 1945, and her Masters degree in 1949.

A second part of the art career of Bettye Olson was a co-founder with six other artists of the West Lake Gallery in Minneapolis in 1964 and was a contributing member throughout its life of over 24 years. A third area of art in Bettye’s life was teaching art. She taught art at Summit School in St. Paul; University of Minnesota; Concordia University in St. Paul; and Augsburg University in Minneapolis.

Bettye had a boundless energy for life and embracing life taking part in many activities whether swimming, figure skating, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, water skiing, golfing, tennis, music concerts, theater, and many, many art openings and exhibits. Bettye was a devout Lutheran her whole life with a keen interest in everything religious and contributing her creative artwork as liturgical art.

In 2020 St. Catherine University, to honor Bettye Olson and her influential work of art, created a permanent, archival Bettye Olson Legacy Collection and Art Loan program with over 175 of Bettye’s works. Visitation from 4:00 P.M.– 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 23rd at O’Halloran & Murphy, 575 Snelling Avenue South, St. Paul, MN 55116; and 10:00 A.M. one hour before the funeral service. Service is scheduled for Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 Snelling Avenue South, St. Paul, MN 55116 on Monday, April 24th at 11:00 A.M. with lunch to follow. Memorials are preferred to Augsburg College Art Department, Minneapolis, MN; Holden Village, Chelan, WA; and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN.