Dawn (Olson) Walsh, 42, died on Sunday, February 14, 2010 at her home in Newfolden, MN after struggling with Multiple Sclerosis for several years.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at the Evangelical Free Church in Newfolden, MN with Pastor Gary Barrett officiating. Burial will be at Viking Cemetery, Viking, MN.

Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a 7:00 P.M. Prayer service on Wednesday evening. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Dawn Joy (Olson) Walsh was born on April 24, 1967 in Thief River Falls, MN, the daughter of Janice (Dau) and DuWayne Olson.

Dawn graduated from Marshall County Central High School in Newfolden, MN, with the class of 1985. Growing up, she was active in school and church activities, as well as 4-H. She enjoyed participating in the Minnesota State Fair Lamb lead showing registered Suffolk sheep. In 1986, Dawn was crowned the Northwest Beef Princess. After high school, Dawn attended UND, Bemidji State University and Northland Community College.

On September 24, 1988 she married Randy Walsh and together they had two sons, Joshua and Jared and a daughter, Jordanne. Dawn was especially proud of her children and enjoyed attending their numerous school, church and sports activities.

Dawn attended the Evangelical Free Church in Newfolden, MN. She was a regular reader of Our Daily Bread and enjoyed collecting Precious Moments figurines, doing cross-stitch, reading and watching tv.

She is survived by her children, Joshua of Grand Forks, ND, Jared and Jordanne of Dundas, MN; brothers and sisters Deb Olson of Thief River Falls, MN, Jeffrey Olson of Newfolden, MN, Joel (Rhonda) Olson of Newfolden, MN and Denise of Red Lake Falls, MN; nieces, Carissa Olson of Fargo, ND and Jerica Olson of Moorhead, MN; several aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives, friends and special cats, Sam and Punkin.

Dawn is preceded in death by her parents, Janice and DuWayne Olson; grandparents, Ingrid and Venus Dau and Mabel and Willie Olson; her Godfather, Kenneth Joe Dau; adopted grandparents, Myrtle and Harvey Dyrud, as well many aunts, uncles and cousins.

CASKETEARERS: Jared Walsh, Cheri Eveland, Eunice Waterworth, Jim Walsh, Bob Dahl, Randy Olson
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: Philip and Marinell Waterworth, Myles and Judy Hogberg