Valda V. Olson

Valda V. Olson, age 87, of Lake Norden, SD, passed away on Sunday, March 21, 2021, at Avantara Lake Norden. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 26, 2021, at Old Apostolic Lutheran Church in Lake Norden. Clinton Efraimson and Harold Koistinen will officiate. Visitation will be at the church on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. Burial will be at the Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery, rural Lake Norden. Active pallbearers are: Anthony Pedersen, Dana Rosenlund, Brad Rosenlund, Chad Koistinen, Ryan Koistinen, Benjamin Koistinen, Grant Koistinen and Roman Koistinen. Valda Vija was born on June 24, 1933 to Olgerts and Ludmilla Kalnins, in Riga Latvia by the Baltic Sea. Olgerts was a commercial fisherman and farmer with fruit orchards. Her family was driven from their farm and country during WWII ahead of fighting between Russia and Germany. Valda helped her mom keep four younger brothers and sisters together as they were shipped by cattle train to Dachau extermination camp along with Jewish prisoners. They escaped Dachau to be sent to refugee camps in Germany for several years. When the war ended they were sponsored by an American woman, Sophie Koistinen, to come by ship and train to South Dakota to help farm. Valda found the Living Christianity in Lake Norden where she met and married Clifford Koistinen on April 27, 1952. They farmed in Lake Norden during their early marriage. Valda worked in an egg candling plant in Lake Norden, the Lake Norden nursing home, a sewing factory and a day care. Valda gardened, canned and raised their six children. She enjoyed fishing and was always grateful if friends brought her a fish. After Clifford died in 1980, Valda married Quentin Olson and they farmed until Quentin died in 1991. Valda is survived by her children: Roberta Pedersen of Volga, SD, Marlon (Anne) Koistinen of South Haven, MN, Larry Koistinen of Lake Norden, SD, Noel (Angelique) Koistinen of Howard, SD and Luanne (Wade) Rosenlund of Sheridan, WY; 25 grandchildren; 84 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; one sister, Parsla Wilks of Spokane, WA; and two sisters-in-law, Marie Koistinen and Ethel Koistinen. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Clifford Koistinen and Quentin Olson; one son, Rolland; two grandchildren, Patrick Pedersen and Savannah Koistinen; her parents; two brothers; and one sister. Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel

www.crawfordosthus.com

Service Details.

Visitation

When: March 25, 2021 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Old Apostolic Lutheran Church
Address: 44768 SD Hwy 28 Lake Norden, SD 57248

Service

When: March 26, 2021 11:00am
Location: Old Apostolic Lutheran Church
Address: 44768 SD Hwy 28 Lake Norden, SD 57248

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