Linda Lou Olson

Linda Lou (Mullen) Olson was born in Glasgow on April 12, 1947, as the youngest of four children born to James and Olive (Hopstad) Mullen. They lived on the family farm until 1956, when they moved into Glasgow. In her younger years, if you saw Linda, you also saw Susie and Maryann at her side, causing trouble. They were cousins first and sisters second.

She met and married Darrel Synan in Glasgow. Through this marriage they were blessed with three children, Terry, Wayne and Charlene. After 17 years and many memories, she and Darrel went their separate ways.

She was skilled in many trades. She enjoyed working many years at the Glasgow Stockyards alongside her mom, Olive. She made many lifetime friends while working there. In 1982, she moved to Hinsdale with her kids and continued her CNA career at the hospital.

On Sept. 29, 1984, she married Robert Olson and started their incredible 32-year journey together. Throughout their marriage they grew their family by three more children, Sheena, Ashley and Taylor. After getting married, they had the Rainbow Room in Hinsdale from August of 1988 through November of 2005. Linda loved her daily pool games, the coffee and cribbage crew, dart leagues, and all the other get-togethers that took place. She truly loved her life at the Rainbow.

She enjoyed an array of hobbies. She would stay up late with her cousins, playing cards and putting puzzles together. She enjoyed playing on her bowling leagues and enjoyed a night out on the town jitter bugging and dancing the night away. She really enjoyed following her kids and grandkids to their sporting events and cheering them on, even though she was a nervous wreck. She loved her pets very much, they have especially been very comforting in the last few years of her life.

Her greatest joy in life was her family, especially her grandchildren. Grandma was well known for always having gum and her jug of RC. She was such a proud mom and always put her kids first, but being a grandma was even more of a blessing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Olive; a sister, Colleen; a brother, Charles; and her dear cousin, Maryann.

Survivors include her husband, Bob, of Hinsdale; her children, Terry Synan and his wife, Denise, of Glasgow, Wayne Synan and his wife, Jaye, of Evanston, Wyo., Charlene Boland and her husband, Matt, of Glasgow, Sheena Hubbard and her husband, Kent, of Hinsdale, Ashley Olson and her husband, Mike, of Hinsdale, and Taylor Olson of Hinsdale; 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and three cousins, Susie Henderson and Karen Hanvold of Glasgow, and Vonnie Cole of Texas.

Funeral services took place on Monday, Dec. 12, at 11 a.m. at the Hinsdale Legion Hall. Cremation has taken place and burial will happen at a later date.

Linda was the best wife, mom, grandma and friend. She is terribly missed and will never be forgotten. We love you!