Katy Olson
Katy Olson (Catherina Gaalswyk Olson) was a Minnesota politician who served in the state House of Representatives from southwestern Minnesota. She was elected in 1986 as part of a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party wave that gave the party control in the region. Olson served from January 6, 1987 to January 2, 1995, representing District 28B and later District 22B, which covered parts of Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Redwood, Watonwan, and Brown counties after redistricting in 1990.
During her time in office, she served on several committees, including Agriculture, Education, Rules and Legislative Administration, Transportation and Transit, Economic Development and Housing, and Energy. She chaired the Legislative Commission on the Economic Status of Women from 1991 to 1993. She also served as an assistant majority leader in 1993-1994 under House Speaker Dee Long.
Olson was from the rural Trimont and Sherburn areas and was known as a strong advocate for farmers, agriculture, and education. Before joining the House, she served on the Trimont School Board. After leaving the legislature, she served on the Minnesota State Board of Teaching and the Minnesota Region 9 Development Commission.
She was born October 24, 1928, in Rock Valley, Iowa, and died August 14, 2011, in Rochester, Minnesota, at age 82. She lived in Trimont with her husband, Robert, and they had five children. Olson attended Luther College and Minnesota State University, Mankato, and worked as a farmer and political activist.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:32 (CET).