Olsen, Dagne, 1933-1994

Dagne Esther Borg was born March 19, 1933 in Dalton, Minnesota. She moved with her family to Park River, ND 1942. She married Duane Douglas Olsen June 25, 1955. She was active in the North Dakota legislature and a member of several organizations. She died August 20, 1994.

From the description of Papers, 1947-2001. Series I - II. (University of North Dakota). WorldCat record id: 457890304

From the description of Papers, 1947-2001. Series III - VI. (University of North Dakota). WorldCat record id: 457920473

Dagne Esther Borg was born March 19, 1933 in Dalton, Minnesota. She moved with her family to Park River, ND 1942. She married Duane Douglas Olson June 25, 1955. She was active in the North Dakoa legislature and a member of several organizations. She died July 7, 1998.

From the description of Papers, 1947-2001. Series IX (University of North Dakota). WorldCat record id: 463619923

Dagne Esther Borg was born March 19, 1933 in Dalton, Minnesota. She moved with her family to Park River, ND 1942. She married Duane Douglas Olsen June 25, 1955. She was active in the North Dakota legislature and a member of several organizations. She died July 7, 1998.

From the description of Papers, 1947-2001. Series X - XI (University of North Dakota). WorldCat record id: 463008199

From the description of Papers, 1947-2001. Series XII (University of North Dakota). WorldCat record id: 459795850

From the description of Papers, 1947-2001. Series VII - VIII. (University of North Dakota). WorldCat record id: 463627842

Dagne Esther Borg was born March 19, 1933 in Dalton, Minnesota. She was the second daughter of Glenn F. and Esther J. (Stortroen) Borg. Other children in the family included Beverly, Marcus, and Dagne's twin brother, David. In 1942, the Borg family moved to Park River, North Dakota where they owned and operated the Golden Valley Creamery. Dagne Borg graduated from Park River High School as co-valedictorian in 1951 and entered the University of North Dakota later that fall. She graduated from the College of Education on June 4, 1955 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, as well as a Bachelor's Diploma in Teaching. She majored in English with minors in German and Art.

She married Duane Douglas "D.D." Olsen on June 25, 1955. D.D. Olsen was born August 3, 1931, the son of Peter and Lilah (Benson) Olsen. Dagne Olsen taught school in Gilby, North Dakota, from 1955-1957, before her first two children, Deanna and Douglas, were born. From 1960-62, she returned to teach at Midway High School in Inkster, North Dakota. Dagne and D.D. had a third child, Richard ("Dick") born with Down's Syndrome, in 1965. Dagne became a tireless worker for the Association of Retarded Children, later known as the Association for Retarded Citizens and was active for over 20 years. She was the first manager of the ARC's Valley Thrift Shoppe, and was Associate Manager for VARCollection, the group's recycling program. She also edited the association newsletter, The Valley Key. She received the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award in 1970 and Outstanding Parent in 1977. She was the ARC of North Dakota Member of the Year in 1981, and the National ARC North Central Region Member of the Year in 1982. She was also given a Distinguished Service Award by the ARC Valley Chapter in 1987.

She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Manvel, served as President of the Manvel Women's Club three times, and was instrumental in the club's participation in the Community Betterment Program. In honor of her Community Betterment activities, Dagne Olsen twice received the Governor's Outstanding Leadership Award in 1960 and 1964. She was active in the United Hospital Auxiliary in Grand Forks, N.D., serving for a term as President. She was also involved with Agassiz Enterprises, an organization providing vocational rehabilitation services to the mentally retarded. In 1978 Olsen was named the Grand Forks Woman of the Year by Beta Sigma Phi. A lifelong Republican, in 1980 Dagne Olsen campaigned for a seat from District 19 in the North Dakota House of Representatives. Her initial victory became the first of seven consecutive terms in the legislature. She was a strong supporter of programs for the mentally retarded, developmentally disabled and the Right to Life movement and a fierce opponent to abortion.

Olsen served on the board of the North Dakota Affiliate of the American Diabetes Association from 1989-1994 and was honored with the Distinguished Service and Outstanding Support Award in 1991. She also was an active participant in the North Dakota Comprehensive Diabetes Control Program. As a member of the North Dakota State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Olsen was appointed by the governor and members of the Council to serve as an advocate of the developmentally disabled, and reviewed, monitored and evaluated the State Plan for Developmental Disabilities. Olsen was a member of this group from 1982-1990, as well as 1994. In 1986, she was named the Outstanding Volunteer for her leadership and significant contributions on behalf of the developmentally disabled. In 1986, she was recognized for outstanding volunteer service and leadership on behalf of citizens with developmental disabilities by President Ronald Reagan's Forum on Developmental Disabilities. She was named to the President's Committee on Mental Retardation by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, and was reappointed by President George Bush in 1992. The PCMR advised the President on a wide array of issues related to mental retardation. She chaired the Full Citizenship and Justice Committee.

Dagne Olsen was also a member of the National Association of Developmental Disabilities Councils from 1985 until 1990. Olsen received a liver transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in August 1991. This did not deter her from winning a seventh term in the House of Representatives in 1992. She was campaigning for re-election again in 1994, when she died on August 20th at Cottonwood Farm in Manvel. She is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Forks.

From the description of Papers, 1947-2001. (University of North Dakota). WorldCat record id: 456740697