Col. Martin Gerald Olson

Martin Gerald Olson was born in Billings, MT on January 10, 1936. His father was a commercial airline pilot who was flying Ford Tri-Motor aircraft between Minneapolis and Seattle. When Martin was about 5 years old, his parents moved to Barranquilla, Columbia in South America where Martin started school. His father was then flying for Pan American Airlines. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, his father volunteered for service and the family left South America and flew to his father’s first assignment in Olathe, KS. His father was soon transferred to Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu in the Territory of Hawaii and the family followed. Martin was enrolled in the school system there and some years later graduated from Roosevelt High School in Honolulu.

In 1953, Martin graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. At that time, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Defense Artillery. While at the University, he met and married Mei Sung (Lee) Olson on December 26, 1958. At the time of their wedding, Lee Olson was a student nurse at the North Dakota School of Nursing. They enjoyed the birth of their son, Allan Lee Olson, on January 30, 1960.

Martin enjoyed a full U.S. Army career of 30 years. He was blessed with only one overseas assignment as an advisor to the Vietnamese Defense Forces. During this Vietnam tour, Martin was wounded in action. He was on a chopper to Saigon and was hit in the leg by a round from a sniper.

Martin was predeceased by his wife Mei Sung (Lee) Olson who died on October 7, 1969. She is buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery (North) in Grand Forks, ND. Their son, Allan Lee Olson and he and his wife, Bonnie, reside in North St. Paul, MN.

Martin married Marilyn Larson on June 13, 1970. They divorced in July 1982.

Later, while Martin was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso Texas, he met Cleonia Ramsey at the Baptist Church they attended. They were married on May 26, 1984. They enjoyed a happy lifetime with each other serving our Lord and reaching out to others. They were members of the Centreville Baptist Church (CBC) for over 30 years. Together, they were Sunday School teachers for 24 years, teaching mostly 4th grades students. Cleonia died on May 29, 2018, and she is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery (North) in Grand Forks, ND. Martin always looked forward to being with Cleonia in Heaven.

Jesus Christ came to take Martin home to Heaven on May 27, 2026. He was proceeded in death by his wives: Mei Sung (Lee) Olson and Cleonia Olson.

Survivors include his son Allan Lee Olson, stepson Dr. James Agee, Jr. and stepson David Bart Agee.

A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at 11 AM on the 5th day of June 2026 at the Centreville Baptist Church, 15100 Route 29, Centreville, VA 20120 with Pastor Bill Hatcher officiating. All are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Camp Nathanael, P.O. Box 129, Emmalena, KY 41740 with Memo: Andrew Kliever. Arrangements have been entrusted to Baker-Post Funeral Home, Manassas, VA. 

Interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery (North), Grand Forks, North Dakota on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 9:00am.