Leslie George Olafson, 72, Harvey, ND died Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at the St. Aloisius Nursing Home, Harvey, ND.  Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 8, 2021 in the Litchville Lutheran Cemetery, Litchville, ND.

Leslie Olafson was born on December 19, 1947 in Valley City, ND. He was the son of George ("Swede") William Olafson and Alma Julia (Jacobson) Olafson. Leslie graduated from Litchfield High School in 1965 and went on to attend Valley City State College where he graduated in 1969 with a degree in teaching. He initially taught in Clara City, MN and then returned to North Dakota in 1971, taking teaching positions first in Sykeston then in New Rockford. Leslie taught high school English, directed high school plays, and coached girls' basketball and golf in New Rockford for nearly 15 years.

Leslie spent many years in the San Diego, CA area where he pursued his passion for golfing. He hosted a radio talk show, "Tee Time With Les", for several years and made custom golf clubs as a hobby. Leslie also played golf with the pros and counted several as his personal friends. His golfing achievements included being the Carrington City Golf Champion for at least six years and the New Rockford City Champion for at least seven years. Leslie has a brother in the MN Golf Hall of Fame and another brother in the ND Golf Hall of Fame, and Leslie said, "I could beat both of them!"

Leslie's other talents including shooting pool, singing at weddings and funerals as a young man and as he got older, and telling a good story or joke.

Leslie was in a car accident in 2005 resulting in injuries causing him to become disabled. He had a stroke in 2014 and moved to the St. Aloisius Long Term Care, Harvey, ND in 2015.

Leslie is survived by his two daughters, Meredith Shaffer of Washington, D.C. and Kristen Draves of Fallbrook, CA; ex-wife Karen (Anderson) Olafson; four grandsons Austin, Dillon, Declan and Callum; two brothers, Dennis of Cooperstown and Terry of East Grand Forks, MN; and his sister, JoAnn Schiffner of Litchville.