Linda Beane Olson, 72, died Friday, October 26, 2012 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.Linda Lee Beane was born in Flandreau, SD on December 25, 1939 to Sydney E. and Lillian (Moore) Beane. Linda attended Spafford Elementary, Flandreau High School, and after moving with her family to Wahpeton, ND, graduated from Wahpeton High School. Following high school Linda moved to Minneapolis, MN to work for Fingerhut. After two years she returned to Wahpeton to attend the North Dakota State College of Science, graduating from the Business School and serving as the College Homecoming Queen. Linda married Fred L. Olson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Olson, at the First Congregational Church of Wahpeton, ND on May 1, 1960. Two weeks later, Linda and Fred moved to Santa Barbara, CA where Linda did clerical and research work at Santa Barbara Research Center and Tecolote Research Center. Fred worked in construction and for the Santa Barbara City Public Works Engineering Department. After retirement in 1995, they returned to Flandreau to make their home in rural Moody County. Linda Beane Olson was a member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, served on the Tribal Gaming Commission and a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Flandreau.

Linda is survived by her husband, Fred Olson, of Flandreau, mother, Lillian Beane and brother William Beane, both of Flandreau, and brother Sydney Beane, Plymouth, MN, nieces Lisa Owen, Prairie Island, MN, Sydney Beane, Katy Beane, and Carly Bad Heart Bull, all of Minneapolis, MN, and nephew John Beane, San Ramon, CA, and 5 grandnieces. She was preceded in death by her father, Sydney E. Beane and grandparents, Oliver and Grace Moore.

Funeral service will be Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau with burial at a later date. A prayer service will be Wednesday at 7:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church, Flandreau.