By Lori Ehde
"Music speaks to the soul," said organist and pianist Lorraine Olson. "It just does something for you that's hard to express in words."
This love of music has kept Olson at the Grace Lutheran keyboard for more than 50 years.
She started playing the organ for Grace fresh out of college when two local Lutheran congregations merged in 1951.
Since then, she's played for two services every Sunday, except for a few years when the church held only one service.
"I have been blessed with good health, so I've never had to call in sick," she said. "However, when I want to be gone, my substitute organist, Marybeth Binford is very competent and willing to fill in for me."
In her 50 years of musical ministry Olson has played for an estimated 800 funerals and 700 weddings.
"You don't start something as a life commitment, but the years go by, and it's become my life," Olson said.
"Life has revolved around my work, my family, my church and my music."
In a 1985 Star Herald interview she said, "Next to God and my family, playing the organ is the closest thing to my heart."
Weddings, she said, are the most joyful and the most challenging.
"It's a happy time for the people involved, and my husband and I are usually included at such special things as grooms' dinners," Olson said in the 1985 story.
Weddings, however, can be demanding because of rehearsal commitments with various soloists and because her family had to adjust to the weekend commitments.
Some funerals also stand out as poignant memories as she often played for family and friends during difficult times.
Olson said she particularly recalls a service for a polio victim in the early 1950s. "It was a scary time," Olson said.
"The Qualley boy had died, and no soloist would sing. My husband said, ' don't want you to play.' But we moved the piano out on the front porch of the Johnson Funeral Home (at Crawford and Kniss) and had the service outside."
Olson said many have played a role in making her career memorable.
"It's been an incredible experience working with many pastors, choir directors and soloists," she said. "All of them have been wonderful to me."
Choir director Dolly Talbert said she's appreciated working with Olson in the church's music department.
"I don't think anybody has a clue what that woman does. The hours of practicing, just for morning service," Talbert said. "She doesn't just walk in on Sunday morning, open her book and play."
Talbert said Olson's talent has benefited Grace's music department.
"She's a gifted accompanist and organist. She's just a fine musician," Talbert said.
She also described Olson as a dedicated worker.
"She will work on the music and do whatever it takes to get it right - to make it all come together," Talbert said.
"She's always willing to go the extra mile. For special events, she'll write the brass parts if there aren't any."
Olson said she enjoys the personal rewards of the job.
"It's my ministry," she said. "It' a God-given privilege."
She said she's particularly fond of music for special services, such as Easter sunrise service and Christmas events.
"Planning the traditional 5 o'clock Christmas Eve service at Grace has been one of my greatest joys," she said. "I just love Christmas music," she said.
A career highlight she noted is the hymn festival she prepared last fall. "It was something I've always wanted to do," she said.
Other highlights include playing for the Messiah performed by the community chorus and Luverne High School.
"One of the biggest thrills was playing for Miss America, Dorothy Benham, at a wedding," Olson said. "I've also enjoyed playing for [local professional opera singer] Emily Lodine. There are countless talented people in our community."
In addition to her work through church, Olson has shared her joy of music with numerous piano students through the years, currently instructing 25 pupils.
Olson said being the Grace Lutheran Church organist for 50 years has been a blessing and a privilege.
"I have been blessed to work in a place and a position that I absolutely love," she said.
"I want to share my love of music. It's a way to carry out ministry and an absolute joy to lead the congregation in worship and praise."
Olson said she's considered retirement, but not very seriously.
"I look forward to every Sunday, and I can't remember a Sunday when I didn't want to get up and go to church," she said.
"When that time comes, it's time to quit."