MILO FREDNAN OLSON

Peacefully, with his wife and daughter holding his hands, Milo Frednan Olson slipped away to Heaven on Easter Monday, April 1, 2013 at the Gull Lake Senior Care Home in Gull Lake, Sask.
Milo was born Feb. 7, 1918, the second son of six children born to Conrad and Mary Olson of Spalding, Sask. He attended Lake Edward School in his early years.
Milo began his life of hard work at neighbouring farms at a young age; hauling logs with draft horses at a logging operation; custom threshing (combining) to far southern states of the U.S.A., and as a bulldozer operator on road construction in Saskatchewan. After working as an underground miner at Flin Flon, Man. and Pickle Lake, Ont., Milo’s destiny led him to Rainy River District, where he met the love of his life, Annie Jane Olson (nee Allan).
They married on Nov. 3, 1949 at Fort Frances, Ont. Their first-born daughter, Mildred Anne (“Millie Olson”) was born in Fort Frances. Their second daughter, Anna May, was born in Emo, Ont., where she passed away shortly after her birth.
Over the 62 years of residing in Rainy River District, Milo worked as a bulldozer operator, school bus driver, and also was one of the last forest fire tower men for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources at Mine Centre, Ont.
Milo and Annie also owned and operated traplines as an inseparable team for many years. Milo especially enjoyed working for Joe George Construction, in the logging industry, as a bulldozer operator for several years prior to his retirement.
As an avid woodsman, Milo had a passion and deep respect for “the bush,” the lakes, and wildlife. He hand-fed wild bears cookies (thankfully without incident!)
He also was gifted as a “horse whisperer” and as a young man in rural Saskatchewan, whenever anyone around the Spalding, Tisdale, and Naicum areas owned a difficult horse, word went out to “Get Milo.”
With patience and caring, he trained “the un-trainable ones” to become calm, trusting, gentle saddle horses.
In 2011, Milo and Annie moved to Saskatchewan to be nearer to immediate family. At the licensing bureau, the agent asked him if he had ever owned a vehicle in Saskatchewan, to which he factually and truthfully responded with, “No, just a horse,” which drew smiles on the staff’s faces.
Milo loved his family with all his heart and his loyalty as a friend was beyond reproach. He always will be remembered for his quick wit and positive attitude.
So many of his nephews and nieces related how Uncle Milo always took the time to listen to them when they were little and how he took them on trips out on the traplines.
Milo is survived by his loving wife, Annie; daughter and son-in-law, Millie and Brent Hahkala; special niece, Lorraine Eklund, grandson, Billy Kuryliw (“Billy-Joe” Clarke) and Carla Guerra; and great-grandchildren, Colton, Skye, Danica Kuryliw, and Austin Milo Guerra; granddaughter and husband, Anne-Marie and Allan Derfong and great-granddaughters, Hailey Faith and Avah Angelina Derfong.
A great-great-grandson and great-great-granddaughter arrived to join the family in July and August of 2012.
He also is survived by his brother, Carmen Olson at Camp Hill Veterans Home, N.S.; brother-in-law, Ronnie Anderson; sister-in-law, Irene (nee Roulston-Allan); and several nephews and nieces and families.
And at the time of his passing, Milo was survived for a short period of time by his dear “lifer friend,” Aldin Foy.
Milo was predeceased by his parents; one brother; three sisters; infant daughter, Anna May; sisters/brothers-in-law and spouses of the Alfred and Veronica Allan family; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand nephews, and grand nieces.
A service was held Saturday, April 6, 2013 at the Assembly of God Church in Maple Creek, Sask., officiated by Pastor Hans Marten.
A graveside service, with interment, will be held at Emo, Ont. at a later date.
The honourary pallbearers were Aldin Foy, Mike Kearney, Ronnie Anderson, Joe George, Charlie Tarrant, Jacques Fiset, Arlan Hahkala, and Carl Johnson, and the eldest sons of some of Milo’s dearest predeceased friends, Larry Kielczewski (Allan), Joe Bliss Jr. (Joe, Sr.), Brian Bowes (Horace), and Michael Kellar (Lyle).
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to the Salvation Army.
“Time waits for no one” often was repeated by Milo. Let us embrace that wisdom in our daily lives.