Curtis Olson was born in Nelson Township, Barnes County, on March 26, 1908. He was educated in the Barnes County schools and Business College by correspondence. He married Violet Rasmussen from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. They have two daughters, Dolores, Willmar, Minnesota and Verna Jane, Valley City. Curt went into the gasoline and oil business in 1930, selling Mobil products and expanded his business in 1947, building a new garage and sold Studebaker and Packard automobiles.
In 1938, Curt was elected alderman of the First Ward, together with Nick Hesch, defeating Ben Northridge and Ole Simenson, and served in this capacity through 1942 and as acting mayor in 1943. He was elected mayor in 1944 and reelected in 1946 to a four-year term. He was elected State Representative in 1941, serving three regular sessions and one special session. On January 1, 1948, he was appointed a member of the State Water Commission by Governor Fred G. Aandahl to fill the unexpired term of the late Lewis T. Orlady of Jamestown, which would expire June 30, 1951. He was reappointed to the Water Commission by Governor Norman Brunsdale for another six years and was also named chairman of the Water Commission. In January, 1953, Governor Brunsdale appointed him to represent the governor at President Dwight David Eisenhower's inauguration ceremony. He was also a presidential elector for Dwight Eisenhower in the 1952 campaign. On December 7, 1954, Curt was named Secretary-Treasurer of the Missouri River States Committee at Topeka, Kansas, for a two-year term.
On April 6, 1956, Curt was endorsed for State Auditor on the Republican ticket, winning over S. M. Burdick of Grand Forks. In the fall general election, he won by a large majority and served the State of North Dakota as State Auditor for sixteen years. When the nominating convention was held in 1972, Curtis did not seek re-election, but instead decided to retire from politics. That fall Curtis and his wife moved from Bismarck back to Valley City, his old home town. They now live at 631 3rd Street, S. E., Valley City.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 183