Alden 'Hank' Ames Olson

Alden “Hank” Ames Olson was born on July 15, 1930 to Ames and Bertha (Bourn) Olson, in Ludell, KS. He passed away on March 17, 2021 at the Good Sam center in Atwood, KS, at the age of 90.

He attended the Ludell school until high school. Later he attended Rawlins County High School where he graduated in 1948.

Hank married Macalene Barnhart, of St. Francis, on August 13, 1950. They made their home in Atwood, Kansas. Later they moved to McDonald, Kansas. They had five sons: David Alden, Randal Ames, Kent Douglas, Richard Lynn, and Gregory Alan.

He attended and played sports at Bethany College and McCook Junior College. Then he earned his teaching license and began a long career as a teacher.

His first teaching job was in Haigler, Nebraska for the 1951-52 school year. (Macalene stayed home in Atwood until Dave was born.) Hank then taught at the Bower country school north of Atwood, Kansas. In 1959, the family moved to McDonald, Kansas where Hank taught 8th grade for many years and finished his career with the Cheylin schools. Hank also coached basketball and track during the school year and baseball during the summer months. He was also a bus driver at times.

He enjoyed being with his boys: whether on the golf course, sitting around the card table, or just sitting around chewing the fat. He and Macalene would travel around the country with some of their families and friends.

Preceding him in death was his wife Macalene; his parents; his brothers, Fran Olson, Gene Olson and Don Olson and a great-grandson Lyndon Olson.

He is survived by his 5 sons, Dave (Marty), Randy (Peggy), Kent (Karen), Rick, and Greg (Sandee); 14 grandchildren; several great-grand-children; sisters-in-law, Mae Olson, Wilma Petsch and Willa Scott and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 20, 2021, at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood, with burial in Fairview Cemetery, Atwood. Memorials are suggested to the McDonald American Legion, McDonald Fire Department, or Good Sam of Atwood, and may be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com