Allen I. Olson obit

Former North Dakota governor Allen I. Olson passes away at 87

 He was not on the list.

BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — Former North Dakota governor Allen I. Olson has passed away at the age of 87, Governor Kelly Armstrong’s office announced today.

Olson served as the state’s attorney general from 1972 to 1980, before becoming the 28th governor of North Dakota from 1981 to 1984.

As governor, Olson worked with the Task Force on Drunk Driving and supported the Garrison Diversion program, which supplied Missouri River water for agricultural and other purposes. Under his administration, the Department of Human Services and Cross Ranch State Park near Washburn were created.

“Governor Olson served North Dakota with dignity and a steady hand as our state’s top law enforcement officer and chief executive,” Gov. Armstrong said in a press release. “His dedication to the well-being of our citizens and his contributions to natural resources management brought lasting benefits to the people of North Dakota. Kjersti and I extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to his family, friends and former colleagues throughout North Dakota.”

Olson was born and raised on a farm near Sarles. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Dakota. He then served in the U.S. Army as a Judge Advocate General’s Corps lawyer and as chief of military justice in Munich, Germany.

He returned to North Dakota in 1967 and became assistant director of what was formerly called the Legislative Research Committee (now Legislative Council). Olson worked in that role until 1969, directing the state’s first study of strip mining, soil banks and land reclamation.

The following three years, Olson worked in private practice until he ran for attorney general in 1972.

When his term as governor ended in 1984, Olson returned to private practice and moved to Minnesota. He became co-owner of a die-casting company in New Hope, and also served as president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota.

He was also appointed by President George W. Bush to the International Joint Commission.

Olson passed away Friday, December 26. The governor’s office says funeral arrangements are pending.