Tod Olson

Tod (Theodore Alexander) Olson Jr., 83, passed away November 12, 2016, from complications of multiple myeloma at his home in Idaho Falls. Tod was born December 20, 1932, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Theodore Alexander Olson Sr. and Grace M. Lundberg Olson. He grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and graduated from Washburn High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in science education from the University of Minnesota and went on to earn a master’s degree in public health from the University of Michigan. On December 20, 1952, Tod married Jacquelyn Joanne Pankratz in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. To this union were born five children, Thor, Eric, Laurie, Lynn, and John. Tod and Jackie made their home in Long Lake, Minnesota. In 1959 Tod began his career at General Mills as a food science researcher, studying fallout from Strontium 90 and helping to develop the continuous Cheerios gun. He also worked to build their computer facility and pioneered the use of computers in research. After leaving General Mills in 1975, he joined Control Data Corporation where his career continued to follow the rapid advance of computers. He served in the Peripheral Products disk drive division, leading the development of early optical data storage. He later became General Manager of Product Management and Planning. He completed his career by returning to General Mills as Director of Information Technology and was widely regarded as a talented manager of both technology and people. After Tod’s retirement in 1991, he and his wife began splitting their time living between their Minnesota and Idaho Falls homes. The citizens of Long Lake, Minnesota, encouraged Tod to run for the office of Mayor. He served two terms as Mayor of Long Lake between 1992 and 1996. In Idaho Falls, he served as President of the Waterford Homeowners Association. Tod was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Long Lake, Minnesota, and set up a fund to assist students in purchasing textbooks. In addition to Tod’s devotion to his family and his communities, he was an avid back packer and organized many trips with his family and friends to his favorite trails in Glacier National Park. Tod felt most at home in the mountains.

Tod (KØTO) was a passionate amateur radio operator. He was a lifetime member of ARRL (Amateur Radio Relay League) in which he served many roles at local, regional and international levels. An active contester, he was inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame in May 2016. He was the founding editor of the National Contest Journal (NCJ) and served on every standing committee of the ARRL board. He was twice chairman of the Administration & Finance Committee of the ARRL. Tod was a member of the Minnesota Wireless Association, the Eagle Rock Amateur Radio Club, and the founding member of the KØTO HF Society here in Idaho Falls. Tod is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Jackie Olson of Idaho Falls, ID; brother, Dr. Robert Olson of Saint Louis Park, MN; son, Thor (Poldi Gerard) Olson of Minneapolis, MN; son, Dr. Eric (Rhonda) Olson of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Laurie (Richard) Baumgartner of Plymouth, MN; daughter, Lynn (Dan) Munson of Maplewood, MN; son, John (Becky) Olson of Apple Valley, MN; 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, R. Thomas Olson, DDS. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 19, 2016, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road. The family will visit with friends from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Funeral Services will be 1 p.m. December 10, 2016, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Long Lake Minnesota. Throughout his life, Tod was a teacher to many of both skills and "Life Lessons." In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the donor’s choice of organizations that teach others. The family would greatly appreciate if you would share a favorite memory in the online guestbook.

Memorial Services will be held