Ray Olson

Ray Olson died peacefully Jan. 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, ID. 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 WWII 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 Navel 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 Bonner's 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 Bonner's 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, 576 Pywell Rd. Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.