OBITUARY: Robert Woodrow Olson, Dufur, Wasco Co., Oregon ********************************************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ********************************************************************************* Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Earline Wasser January 2003 ********************************************************************************* The Dalles Chronicle January 9, 2003 Robert Woodrow Olson Surnames: Olson, Palmer, Aarhus, Lightner, Schreiber, Dyball, Cotter, Hertel, Morrow, Eckert, Ziltener, Flaherty, Lynch, Hussey, Starr, McCutcheon Robert (Bob) "Red" Woodrow Olson, 84, a longtime resident of Dufur (Oregon), died at his home on Sunday, January 5, 2003. He was born March 12, 1918, in Suquamish, Washington, the fourth of ten children to Albert Edwin and Martha Fay (Palmer) Olson. The family moved to the Kent Valley area of Seattle (Washington), where Bob and his siblings spent their youth helping their mother support the family through the depression. He sporadically attended Thomas Grade School where he graduated from the eighth grade. At age 15, he enrolled in Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC's) in Washington. In 1938, when he was 20, he set off for Alaska in a 21-foot leaky boat, appropriately named the "Hard Times" with no more equipment than a dime store compass, to pursue his career as a commercial fisherman. He joined the CCC's in Yakutat, Alaska, spent a year in a TB (tuberculosis) hospital, survived several winters as a trapper and finally settled into his fishing career around Petersburg (Alaska). He married Ardis Aarhus in Kent (Washington), where they lived before returning to Petersburg. In 1951, he bought a farm in the lower Fifteenmile are of The Dalles. He and Ardis raised his first family there. For 38 years, he continued to fish in Alaska and Washington for salmon, halibut, black cod and tuna. He was married to Alma Lightner Olson for several years in the late 1960's. In 1975, Bob married Kathleen "Katie" M. Schreiber in Oak Harbor, Washington and after spending five years on Whidbey Island in Washington, they settled in Dufur, where they farmed together and raised his second family. He finally retired in 2000. He was a member of the White River Christian Fellowship Church in Tygh Valley (Oregon), a very active member of the Ten-Mile Saddle Club and former member of the Ramsey Park Grange. He loved his family and centered his life on them. He enjoyed playing cards, reading and working. He is survived by his wife, Katie, Dufur, his seven children and spouses, Karen and Ken Dyball, Tonasket, Washington; Lynn and Gary Cotter, James and Phyllis Olson, Tom and Sydney Olson, Marty and Moryah Olson, Rose and Travis Hertel and Albert Olson, all of Dufur; nine grandchildren, Dan Morrow, Lars, Scott and Janell Dyball, Ted Eckert, Robert, Mike and Nels Olson and Caleb Olson; great grandchildren, Andrew and Tracy Morrow; brothers, Jack Olson, Centralia, Washington and John Zittener, Enumclaw, Washington; sisters, Alice Flaherty, Enumclaw; Diane Lynch, Bellingham, Washington and Marge Hussey, Ocean Shores, Washington. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Aries "Slim" and Clarence Olson and sisters, Mary Starr and Martha Jean McCutcheon. At his request no public funeral services will be held. A private family committal service will be held with Asa Jenson officiating. Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. Memeorials may be made to Oregon Food Bank, 2540 NE Riverside Way, Portland, Oregon 97238 and/or Northwest Harvest, P.O. Box 12272, Seattle, Washington 98102 or a gift to a child in need. Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, Oregon