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Ray Stanley Olson |
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September 13, 1920 ~ January 23, 2016 |
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January 25, 2016 |
 Ray
Olson died peacefully January 23, 2016 at the
Boundary County Restorium after a year long
battle with cancer. A memorial service will be
held for Ray, January 30, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.,
Trinity Lutheran Church, Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
Ray was born September 13, 1920 to Rubin and
Selma Olson in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Early in
his life the family moved back to Iowa. When he
was seven years old his father died. He and his
older brother Lake were raised by a strong and
loving single mom through the depression years.
After high school Ray joined the Navy in 1938.
He was nearing the end of his enlistment when
World War II broke out, and ended up serving
until the war's end. He served as a Navy medic
at Naval hospitals and on board ships and
submarines throughout the Pacific.
While home on leave in 1942 Ray married Hazel
Buchanan, the love of his life for 68 years.
After the war they moved from San Diego,
California to Farragut Naval Base in Idaho. When
discharged they returned to Indianola, Iowa
where Ray attended Simpson College on the G.I
Bill.
After college, Ray went to work for Farmers
Mutual Hail Insurance Co. in Des Moines. Over
the next 30 years he served as personnel
manager, assistant secretary and vice-president
of the company, retiring in 1982.
In retirement Ray and Hazel gardened, traveled
and spent winters in Destin, Florida, where they
made many good friends. With Hazel's health
failing they decided to move to Bonners Ferry,
Idaho in 2008 to be closer to their son Steve
Olson. At the Bonner's Ferry Restorium they
found a new home filled with loving and caring
people. Ray said that Bonners Ferry was the
friendliest place he'd ever been and was quickly
involved in activities at the Restorium, the
Episcopal Church and the local Rotary Club. He
developed a large garden behind the Restorium,
growing fruits and vegetables for the kitchen
and flowers to enjoy. He also initiated a
monthly “We Care” award to recognize the
incredible staff members there.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father,
two brothers and wife Hazel.
He is survived by son Steve Olson (wife Becky
Peterson), daughter Suzanne Oehlerking (husband
George) Highlands Ranch, Colorado, 11
grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren.
Ray made friends wherever he went and made the
world a better place. He will be missed by all
of us who knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to
the “Friends of the Restorium” and mailed to
Steve Olson, P.O. Box 576, Bonners Ferry, Idaho
83805.
SERVICES
Memorial Service
Saturday, January 30, 2016
11:00 a.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church
6784 Cody St.
Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805 |
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