Mitzi was born in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Oak Park High School early each morning, rode the elevated train to downtown Chicago for rehearsals and performed on stage at the elegant Palmer House at night. She had studied dance from a young age and was a beautiful, very talented Muriel Abbott dancer. Mitzi worked with famous entertainers such as Liberace, Imogene Coca and Victor Borge. Mitzi was approached by a Hollywood agent who urged her to move to LA for screen tests and a potential career in film… however, Carolyn, Mitzi’s mother, did not agree.
Mitzi graduated high school with honors and enrolled as a drama major at Macalester College in St. Paul. She met James (Jim) Olson while acting in a play on campus. They married in 1951 and traveled to Massachusetts where Jim had a job as stage manager for the Falmouth Playhouse. The happy couple took up residence in their own homemade travel trailer, which Jim built and Mitzi furnished and decorated. They entertained the actors and Mitzi cooked in the tiny kitchen for stars like Walter Mathau and Eva Gabor. In 1953 returned to St. Paul to purchase 45 acres on the shores of Tanners Lake. It was their dream to build a park for travel trailers and the larger mobile homes now popular. Mitzi worked alongside her husband to build their business beginning with construction of the Pure Oil Truck Stop and Tanners Lake Swimming Beach. To finance development of the new park they sold their car and travel trailer and cashed in two life insurance policies to secure a mortgage and buy a tractor. Mitzi and Jim’s dream became a reality.
She enjoyed working in politics and the school PTA—all the while raising three children. Mitzi had a strong influence in her children’s lives, always encouraging them to pursue their interests in the arts. She studied painting and continued to dance. Mitzi performed in several ballets alongside her two daughters with the Andahazy Ballet Borealis Company. She appeared in productions of Scheherazade, Petrushka and Swan Lake, to name a few.
Mitzi’s beloved husband died in 1985 but despite this enormous loss, Mitzi assumed responsibilities for the businesses they owned. Some years later Mitzi met Richard Herreid. They became devoted to each other and enjoyed retirement, traveling extensively until his death in 2009.
Mitzi adored her cats and the multitudes of birds that came to her bird feeders year-round. She also loved and supported music within her family and community. Mitzi was a woman of grace and wisdom, helping all she knew. We love and miss her more than can be expressed.
Mitzi is survived by her children Jamie Olson (Paul Craggs), Wendy Olson, Todd Olson; grandchildren Caitlin Craggs, Olivia Craggs, and Michael James Olson-Peterson. Please join us with stories, poems, and reminiscences about Mitzi Marie Olson, with wine and music, Saturday June 23, 1:00 – 4:00 at Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center, Stillwater, MN.
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