Beth L. Olson, 77, Hovland, MN died at Edgewood Vista Memory Care in Virginia, MN on Friday, March 28, 2025 after an 11 year struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Beth was born October 29, 1947 to Dorothy Myrtle Loftis and Elmer Paul Olson in Brainerd, MN. She grew up in Bloomington, MN, graduating from Bloomington HS in 1965. She married John Hallen in Minneapolis in 1969, eventually moving to Grand Rapids, MN where they raised their family and numerous foster children. John Hallen died July 7, 1997.
Beth attended Itasca Community College and Bemidji State University, completing a BS Degree in Applied Psychology and a minor in Women’s Studies in 1991 at the age of 44. Out going and gregarious, she loved working as a Senior Center Activities Director in Grand Rapids and a Travel Counselor with the MN Office of Tourism. Beth had a special passion for working and volunteering with victims of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence in local programs in Itasca, Lake and Cook counties as well with the Minnesota Battered Women’s Coalition.
She loved music . . playing, listening, singing. . . especially harmony. When residing in Grand Rapids, Beth participated in church choir, bell ringers and directed the high school bell choir and was a radio music host and volunteer of the year at KAXE. She hit the musical stage with the Grand Rapids Players, the West Range Country Show, the Grand Rapids Showboat and at the Laplant Jams/Bluegrass Festival.
In 1999, she joined partner, Susan Maijala in Hovland, MN where she volunteered and performed in Grand Marais Playhouse productions, the Hovland Arts Festival, co-hosted a variety of WTIP radio programs, including “Small Change” and sang with local band, Portage.
Beth enjoyed gardening and landscaping their property, exploring the North Shore, traveling to Mexico and of course a steamy, hot sauna. Upon retirement they spent summers caring for grandchildren, attending music festivals, traveling domestically and internationally and wintered in New Mexico, the Yucatan of Mexico, North Carolina and Georgia.
Beth was preceded in death by her parents, husband John Hallen; sister Wanda Klepel, brothers Eldon Olson and Terry Tjader; and her beloved little chihuahua, Nina.
She is survived by her partner of 27 years, Susan Maijala; son Tom (Mari Allen) Hallen of Nashwauk, MN; daughter Kristin “Kit” McNicholas (Jim) of Fayetteville, NC; those who lovingly called her “Gran”: Olivia, Lydia and Axel Hallen, Joselyn and Dylan Sobey, and Fox Morris; extended family and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 13, 3 pm at the Hovland Town Hall.
