Helen Olson, 88, passed from the earth in the early morning hours of May 30, 2011, Memorial Day, into the hands of her Creator at Oakland Park Communities in Thief River Falls, MN surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at St. John Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Aaron Zuch officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held on Thursday for one hour prior to the funeral service.

Helen Luverne Nelson was born on June 9, 1922 the sixth of ten children born to Oscar and Anne (Lubitz) Nelson in Corliss Township near Perham, MN. The Nelsons moved from the Perham area to Casselton, ND then to the Germantown and Mavie, MN area where they farmed. Helen attended elementary school in Germantown.

In 1941 the Nelson family purchased the Mavie Store where Helen was the Post Mistress until the Post Office was closed. That was only one of her jobs, Helen and her sister, Fern operated a milk pick up and delivery service out of the store.

Helen was united in marriage to Clifford Kife M.J. Olson on December 14, 1947 at Warren, MN. Together they operated the Park Hotel & Caf until it was sold. In 1950 they built Kifes Caf south of Thief River Falls on Highway 59. Together they worked at the business and raised three children, Clifford O., Gwendolyn F. and Timothy J.

Kife died on October 31, 1979. Helen sold the business in 1983 and moved to a small house on Gleason Ave. where she lived for many years. She moved to Valley Home in 2005 shortly after her heart surgery and finally to Oakland Park Communities in May of 2011.

Helen was an avid sports enthusiast, playing softball into her thirties and later curling. Another passion was playing cards which she greatly enjoyed, even up until a few months ago. She was also a great fan of the Twins and Vikings and was able to obtain autographs from several of the players after they visited Kifes Caf.

She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN where she taught Vacation Bible School many years ago. Helen was also a member of the Curling Club in Thief River Falls.

Survivors include children, Cliff Butch (special friend, Cheryl Clamm) Olson of Warren, MN, Gwen (Ed) Solvik and Tim (Kathy) Olson all of Thief River Falls; grandchildren, Renae, Eric, Ben, Robert, Zach; great-grandchildren, Max, Trent, Jacob, Nichole, Mason, Logan; sisters, Violet Weigel of Thief River Falls, Fern Liden of Underwood, MN, Lillian Klockman of Thief River Falls; sister-in-law, Helen Muriel Nelson of Minneapolis, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Kife; infant grandson; brothers & sisters, Alfred (Betty) Nelson, Curdis (Ida) Nelson, Gladys (Harold) Jorstad, Bud Nelson, Isabelle Latta, Alice (Stanley) Hruby; brothers-in-law, Bernie Weigel, Kenny Liden, Ralph Klockman.