Eric Neal Olson, age 43, of Artesian, SD died Sunday, October 29, 2017 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Saturday, November 4, 2017 at First Lutheran Church in Mitchell, SD with burial at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Artesian, SD.  Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell with a prayer service beginning at 8:00 PM Friday.

Eric Neal Olson was born October 30, 1973, the oldest of three children to Neal and Kathleen (Schroeder) Olson at the Huron Regional Hospital, Huron, SD.

He attended all 12 years of school at Artesian Letcher High School, graduating in May of 1992. He played in the school band, on the football team and was a member of FFA. Eric helped design the Rebel school mascot. He attended school at SDSU in Brookings, SD and Bozeman University, Bozeman, MT.

He lived in Sioux Falls where he held numerous jobs for two years. Eric moved to Mitchell and commuted to his parent's farm at Artesian to help farm. He was in the process of buying his grandparent's house where they lived for several years.

Eric was an avid reader, wrote short stories, loved music and was a good artist. He read his Bible everyday in different versions. He was trying to learn the Aramaic language Jesus and his disciples spoke.

Grateful for having shared his life are his parents, Neal and Kathleen Olson, Artesian, SD; his sister, Nicole (Corey) Whitney, Armour, SD and their children, Alyssa and Hannah; his brother, Ryan (Katrina Grassel) Olson and their children, Evalynn, Landon and Conrad; many aunts, uncles and cousins.