Virginia "Ginny" Ruth Olson

Virginia “Ginny” Ruth (Tatro) Olson died peacefully at 95 years of age on April 22, 2023, surrounded by her family.

Virginia was born November 24, 1927, to Marjorie and Edward Tatro in Hibbing, Minnesota. She graduated from Hibbing High School and was a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church of Hibbing. Summers were spent at the family’s cabin at Side Lake. Virginia earned a teaching degree in Elementary Education from St. Catherine University in St. Paul. She taught for two years (nursery school and kindergarten) at St. John’s School in Rochester; she also taught first grade in Faribault.

Virginia married Charles Mansfield Olson from Brownsdale, on July 23, 1949, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hibbing. Charles was employed by the Milwaukee Railroad as a train dispatcher. As their family grew larger, they lived in Faribault, La Crosse, WI, La Crescent, and Blooming Prairie. The couple raised nine children, Gregory, Denise, Douglas, Andrea, Randall, Scott, Barbara, Lana, and Sally, along with a menagerie of cats and dogs.

Virginia was active in the Blooming Prairie (BP) community and served as a substitute teacher and Title I at BP Elementary School, as well as a leader for Cub Scouts, Webelos, and Girl Scouts. At the St. Columbanus Catholic Parish, she taught religious education classes for years, raised thousands of plants for the annual spring festival, and created hundreds of quilts with the quilting group to give to charitable organizations. Virginia loved to travel, venturing by plane, train, ship, and bus throughout the United States, as well as to Europe, South America, Middle East, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, who died on April 14, 1987; and one brother, Douglas Tatro.

Virginia is survived by her 9 children, Greg Olson, Denise Munson (Robert), Douglas Olson, Andrea Fowler (Dan), Randall Olson, Scott Olson, Barbara Whittington (Michael), Lana Johnson (Andrew), and Sally Hastings (John); 15 grandchildren, Matthew Olson, Marcus Olson, Michelle Olson, Maren Sellner, Brianna Hoffman, Molly Suedbeck, Nathan Fowler, Nicole Wolle, Allison Whittington, Anika Whittington, Grace Johnson, Jack Johnson, Rachel Hastings, Daniel Hastings, Michael Hastings; and 17 great grandchildren.

A special note of thanks to the Mayo Austin Hospice team and the Heather Haus Assisted Living caregivers. Your dedication to residents living their lives to the fullest potential is extraordinary. We saw you demonstrate on countless occasions your nurturing care, advocacy for Mom, and that her wishes were honored and supported.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial and luncheon will be held at St. Columbanus Catholic Church, 114 E. Main Street, Blooming Prairie, MN 55917 at 12:00 noon on Friday, May 12, 2023. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in St. Columbanus Catholic Cemetery, Blooming Prairie. Virginia had a special place in her heart for service organizations. For memorial contributions, she designated St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Blooming Prairie, the Blooming Prairie Public Library (nonprofit group is “Friends of the BP Library”) Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library of Faribault, St. Catherine University of St. Paul, and the Mayo Hospice Foundation of Rochester.