Obituary of Walter Olsen

Walter H. Olsen, Jr. Walter H. Olsen, native Olympian, county-wide activist and current executive director of the National Association of Competitive Mounted Orienteering, passed away at his home Friday, October 5th at the age of 66. He has been an enthusiastic member of the national Cowboys for Christ organization and was an ordained lay minister. He was the current master of the Violet Prairie Grange #996 and spearheaded the recent dedication of its Thurston County Historical marker. He was the former editor and continuing columnist for the national quarterly horse magazine, The Meadow Muffin. He has been the precinct committeeman for his area and a volunteer for KACS Christian Radio. He was a regular participant of the Tenino Men’s Thursday morning prayer breakfast. Olsen helped organize the Centennial Rails to Trails project in 1976 across the United States and drove his horse and wagon from the Idaho border to Olympia. He had been a volunteer fireman for Tenino Fire Department and one of the first to complete EMT training. He is a former elder and choir member of the Tenino Presbyterian Church and was a current member of the Mountain View Church of the Nazarene, Tumwater. Olsen was born May 12, 1941 in Olympia to Walter H. Olsen and Winnifred Castle Olsen. He graduated from Olympia High School in 1959 with activity letters in football, wrestling, and mixed chorus. He served in the United States Navy in the Pacific area for six years, first on the USS Thetis Bay and then the USS Hancock as a journalist. Following his military service he worked in the photogrammetry section of the Washington State Department of Transportation. He was a professional photographer and for a number of years owned and operated the Tenino Corner Grocery. His most recent activity has been part time employment at the Tumwater Jack In The Box and conducted a weekly Bible Study at Merrill Gardens Retirement Community. He leaves his wife, Glenda, whom he married December 31, 1991 and her children: Rob Crawford and Dreen Crawford (Olympia area), Cindy Burden (Polaris, Montana); Deanna Painter (Jeff) (Tenino); his daughter, Rena Marie Vestal (Brian); two granddaughters, Alexandria and Isabella Vestal (Olympia); his mother, Winnifred L. Olsen (Olympia); his brother, Wayne L. Olsen (Betsy) (Bonney Lake), and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to KACS Christian Radio, 2451 NE Kresky, Unit A, Chehalis, WA 98532.