Rev. Ron Olson

“The biggest advantage of the connectional system is the support that we can give one another in the church,” said Rev. Ron Olson, one of the retiring elders who is being recognized at this year's annual conference. “When we share ministries, we can do a lot more than if we try to do it individually. We were created for connection.”   

Olson grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and attended First United Methodist Church with his family.  

“We were faithful churchgoers and participated in a lot of this stuff going on in the church. I'm glad for that foundation that my parents gave me,” said Olson. 

Both of his parents found their vocation in education. Olson’s father was a driver’s education teacher at Washington High School in Sioux Falls for the majority of his career, and his mother primarily taught fourth grade, taking a brief break to raise her family. Due to the heavy focus on education in his home life, Olson found it also shaped how he connected with his faith. 

“Education, reading, and bettering yourself in terms of academics and was always a high value in our life,” shared Olson. “I do value a very rigorous study of the Scriptures that came from my academic background or from my mom and dad's academic values.” 

Although Rev. Olson grew up with a strong faith foundation with his family, he didn’t get serious about his personal faith until his mid-twenties, after marrying his wife, Michelle. Together they started going to Seymour United Methodist Church in Seymour, Wisconsin, where they both connected with the pastor and an older couple that helped them feel connected.  

“This couple really took us under their wings. They didn't have any kids in the area, so they kind of adopted us,” recalled Olson. “They would bring us over for dinner after Sunday worship, and we would work in the garden with them.” 

“I would say that this couple was really instrumental in teaching us the care of a body of believers in church because they exemplified that so well!” he added. 

Pastor Ron with his wife, Michelle, and his daughter, Maija, as they began their ministry at Hurley UMC. (photo from Hurley UMC Facebook)

After receiving guidance from members of his church community, Olson decided to leave his job in sales and attend seminary, along with his wife, at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Ron received a Master of Divinity while Michelle graduated with a Master of Arts in Missions and Evangelism.  

While at seminary, the couple connected with some of the faculty that had been missionaries and decided that was the path God was calling them to. The first step was attending linguistics school.  

“When we left Kentucky, we went to linguistics school in Dallas, Texas. where we got our training,” said Olson. “The mission we were with was Wycliffe Bible Translators and they focus on translating the Scriptures in places where there are minority languages and no written scriptures.” 

After his time with Wycliffe Bible Translators, Olson taught English as a second language at West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas, as the director of the School of English. After a short time teaching, Olson and his wife moved to Minneapolis in order to raise funds to go on an overseas mission.  

Ron and Michelle spent sixteen years (1995 – 2011) in Papua New Guinea doing Bible translation.  

“We finished the translation in a minority language in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea and did a lot of literacy training along the way,” said Olson. “We also introduced some community development like water supply.” 

After spending sixteen years in mission, Olson felt like God was calling him to pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church. 

“I grew up as a United Methodist, and I think that I was comfortable and familiar with that tradition and so I stayed with it,” explained Olson. “It all made sense to me, so I felt like I was in the right place.” 

In 2011, Olson was appointed in the Dakotas Conference to Bowman United Methodist Church in Bowman, North Dakota, where he served for seven years. Some of Olson’s other appointments included the United Methodist Churches in Montrose, Hurley, Viborg, Parker, and visitation for Sioux Falls First.  

When some churches, through discernment, decided to go through the disaffiliation process, Olson wanted to stay true to his roots and remain United Methodist. 

“I felt like I could still do a lot of great ministries, and the United Methodist Church was allowing me to practice as I believed, and I appreciate that,” share Olson. 

Pastor Ron participating in the Higher Ground cohort retreat.

Olson values the different ways that the United Methodist Church and the community of the Dakotas Conference have surrounded him and his family throughout his ministry.  

“When a really terrible thing happens to someone, the whole conference, the connectional nature, our churches, they all encourage support,” said Olson. 

He and his family experienced this firsthand following their life-changing auto accident in 2013. “You would not believe the support we received,” recalled Olson. “Letters and phone calls and money and prayers—we were just overwhelmed with love. That's a beautiful thing that happens because of our connectedness.” 

When thinking about passing down advice to future and current clergy, Olson focused on some of the basic things that have helped him in his ministry.  

“Be the best you can possibly be. Don't try to change your ministry style to fit the previous pastor or other people's expectations,” said Olson. “Just live into the way God has created you. Use your strengths. Just preach the Word, preach Jesus.” 

Although Olson will be retiring from ministry in the Dakotas Conference, he is not done using his gifts to help others.  

“I'm not going to completely retire; I'm just going to put on a different set of tires,” explained Olson. “I have my master's in counseling, and I'm going to continue doing that part-time.”  

“I will have some flexibility to go see my grandkids and do some things that I've been wanting to do,” he added. “I'll probably do some more woodworking in my shop, spend time with extended family, travel, and bug my wife more.”