Obituary of Stephen F. Olson

Stephen F. Olson, Master Sergeant (Ret), 70, a 20 year resident of Olympia, died Saturday, September 18, 2004 at his home. Mr. Olson was born December 22, 1933 in Alameda, California to Jean (Franklin) Olson.Upon graduation of high school in San Francisco Steve entered the service. Much of his military service was spent overseas. Steve’s long-term duties included four assignments to Germany; one to South Africa; and two tours of duty to the Republic of Vietnam. He had many short-term assignments to countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Iran, Italy, Greece, Libya, Norway, and Turkey. After retiring from the Army, as a Master Sergeant, he worked as a Merchant Marine and later for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In 1981 he settled in Washington State. Eventually he fully retired and began, in 1988, to travel frequently through the United States and Mexico in his RV, often attending reunions and visiting with other members of the Special Forces brotherhood. He was an avid outdoorsman enjoying hunting on horseback in the backcountry of Montana, fishing on the Snake River and crabbing in the Dungeness Bay. During his last years he especially enjoyed captaining his 32-foot trawler, the “Sea Trojan” throughout the Puget Sound waterways. Stephen F. Olson was the father of two children, a son and daughter. He was also known to others as a son, a husband, an uncle, a cousin, a companion and to a great many more…a friend! For many he will be remembered in our hearts as someone who was determined to live life on his terms, with great gusto, and did so through his last days. He attended high school in San Francisco and received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Mr. Olson served in the United States Army Special Forces Green Beret and was a Vietnam Veteran. He was also in the Merchant Marines. Among his many interests are boating, fishing, cooking, traveling, and Dixie Land jazz music. Mr. Olson had membership in the Elks and Washington Unit WBCCI. A graveside service with Military Honors will be held Friday, October 1, 2004 at 11:00 a.m., at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.