Raymond C. Olson

Raymond Carl Olson passed away November 20 ^th , 2019, after a brief stay at Good Samaritan Society in Albion, NE of complications from leukemia. He was 88 years young.

At Ray's request, he will be cremated and no services will take place at this time. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in his honor. Ray didn't want a fuss. That's who he was.

Ray, the only son of Carl and Selma Olson, was born March 25 ^th , 1931, at home in rural St. Edward, Nebraska. He attended District 12 through 8 ^th grade and graduated from Albion High School in 1948. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, where he met his future bride, Dorothy (Dottie) Lee Freese at Luther League events. After graduation, he farmed with his father until joining the U.S. Coast Guard in 1952, where he made lifelong friends. He truly enjoyed his time there and never lost his love of the ocean or his country.

Ray married Dottie on November 20 ^th , 1952, while on leave from Groton, Connecticut. She later joined him in Long Island, New York, where they enjoyed exploring new places when his ship, the U.S.S. Campbell, was not at sea. Upon discharge, Ray returned to work with his father on the family farm. From this marriage, they had four children, Laurie, Chris, Julie and Dan.

Later in life, Ray discovered a new love when he added long-haul trucking to his life to supplement the farm income. He truly enjoyed driving coast-to-coast, seeing the country he loved and meeting new friends along the way. Ray never met a stranger.

Ray will be remembered for his incomparable love of his family, his appreciation of nature, his quest for knowledge, and being a world-class listener and conversationalist. He never lost touch with his inner child and enjoyed playing games of all sorts with his family. His love and pride in his grandchildren was limitless!!!

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Selma Olson, his in-laws, Julius and Vivian Freese, his sister-in-law, Carol Flanagan, many cousins, and all of his Coast Guard buddies who were like family to him. He was the last man standing. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dottie; sons Chris Olson (Nialie) and Dan Olson (Jean), all of Albion, and his daughters, Laurie Nye (Steve) of Omaha, and Julie Putnam (Sean) of Lincoln; his sister, Ruth Essink (Doyle) of Chino Valley, AZ; his sister-in law, Karen Cline of LaVista, NE; his grandchildren, Cassandra Olson, Zachary Olson (Caitlin), Nathan Olson (Michelle), Danielle Olson, Jacob Olson, Logan Olson; Amanda Nye Bitting (Bill); Joshua Barnes (Mollie), Brian Barnes; Victoriya Suvorova, Chel Putnam, Kailie McDermott, Rylie McDermott; great-grandchildren Hailey Olson and Hunter Olson, his nieces and nephews and his special buddy, Jack the black lab, and the countless people who touched his life and shared stories with him.