Emilee Olson

Emilee LaVanche Olson was born on November 2, 1998, in Anhui Province, China. At ten months old, she was adopted by the Charlie and Traci (Poffenberger) Olson family in Cottonwood. Emilee was in the third grade at Lakeview Elementary School in Cottonwood when her life was tragically cut short as the result of a bus accident. Emilee was a very happy, energetic and fun loving kid who made friends wherever she went. Her laugh was contagious. She loved singing, playing and performing piano and was scheduled to participate in an upcoming piano festival. Emilee loved her horse, Barbie and belonged to the Ponies of America Club. She was chosen to be the 2008 South Dakota P.O.A. Sweetheart. Emilee also loved her two cats, Cuddles and Cloudy. She belonged to the Swan Lake Skippers 4-H Club and enjoyed their activities. Emilee was a wonderful daughter, sister, granddaughter, cousin and friend. She loved playing with, spending time with and bugging her siblings in good fun. She is survived by her parents Charlie and Traci Olson and siblings Bailee, 14, Sidnee, 11, and Rilee, 6, of Cottonwood, grandparents Dale and Dorothy Poffenberger of Detroit Lakes, Stan and Shi Aamodt of Cottonwood, Aunts and Uncles David and Terri Hutchinson of Detroit Lakes, Jay and Amber Poffenberger of Big Lake, Jon and Karen Poffenberger of Dana Point, CA, Gary and Sharon Olson of Aurora, IL, Rick and Honna Olson of Esko, Tim and Marcia Amdahl of Fulton, SD, Craig and Denise Aamodt of St. Louis Park, many cousins, her Lakeview elementary classmates, P.O.A. friends, 4-H friends, Sunday School mates, and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Robert Olson and first pony, Scoop.