
Louise was born on December 2, 1922 in Fargo, ND to William and Fannie (Henderson) Johnson. She grew up in Fargo and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1940 and North Dakota Agricultural College (NDSU) with a bachelor's degree in home economics in 1944. She attended Iowa State College for four summers and received a master's degree in vocational education in 1952. On September 10, 1955, Louise married Milo Olson at the First Baptist Church in Fargo. They made their home on the Olson family farm in rural Wyndmere, ND. In retirement, the couple wintered for 18 years in Brownsville, TX.