Obituary of Ronald Allan Olson

November 9, 1934 – Tiger Hills, Saskatchewan

November 22, 2023 – Calgary, Alberta

Ronald Allan Olson went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at the age of 89 years.

Ron was a gentle soul with a welcoming presence, a deep faith, and an ever-present smile that drew people to him. He dearly loved and cared for the love of his life and his high school sweetheart Delaine and was similarly devoted to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ron had a tireless work ethic and was ready to help whenever there was a need from family, friends, or the church; he could build or fix anything. His faith and love for the Lord was shared with many through his many decades of work as an Elder at Peace Lutheran Church, which he helped to found in 1975, and in his daily interactions with everyone he met.

Ron was born to Alvin and Florella Olson on November 9, 1934, in Tiger Hills, Saskatchewan, the seventh of twelve children. He met Delaine in high school at Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute in Outlook, SK and they were married in Saskatoon, SK on July 21, 1956, where Kevin was born in 1958. They moved to Calgary, AB in 1959 where their family grew to include Kelly, Cameron, and Brent. Ron managed rental developments when he first moved to Calgary and after a few years moved to exterior renovations where he was one of the best. A workplace accident in 1980 caused him to change careers and he finished his career as the maintenance manager at Father Lacombe Nursing Home, going back to school to get his Power Engineering certification.

From an early age, Ron loved playing sports including many hours playing hockey on frozen ponds with his brothers and playing competitive fastball. When he moved to Calgary, he took up 10-pin bowling, was a two-time Alberta Amateur champion, and represented Canada at the 1971 World Bowling Championships. He loved playing golf with his kids, grandkids, and friends. Some highlights from his golf days were making a two on the par 4 ninth hole at Maple Ridge and many years later a hole-in-one on the third hole – both while playing with his three sons. In 2013, he joined his sons on the trip of their lifetimes attending “The Masters” in Augusta Georgia.

Ron and Delaine also loved camping. From the early years with the kids in their Jasper 500 tent trailer to their retirement where they upgraded to a luxurious fifth wheel. The yearly Olson campout was always a highlight for them, as well as for their kids and grandkids. Some of the campout locations included Kimberley, Fort Steele, Outlook, Vernon, Kalispell, Coeur d’Alene, and Sicamous. When they retired, they travelled across Canada, down the east coast, and west across the southern states, ending up at the Sunset Resort in Mesa, Arizona. They spent the next seven winters at Sunset making many new friends and being a part of the Sunset Resort Church and choir.

Ron will be greatly missed by his loving wife Delaine, children, Kelly (Lew), Cameron (Susan), and Brent (Tanya); and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will also be missed by his siblings, Jarle (Judy), Ken (Donna), Lloyd (Betty-Lou), Larry (Irene), and Sharon (Jim); sister-in-law Kay, and his in-laws, Kae, Lorne (Darlene), Karen (Don), Wanda (Larry), Terry (John), and Tim (Rondi). He was predeceased by his son Kevin and Kevin’s wife Diane, his parents, Alvin and Florella Olson; siblings, Vivian (Howard), Ida Gwen (Bob), Mac (Ella), Joyce (Roy), Florence (Ted), and Ed; and in-laws, father and mother-in-law, Joseph and Lydia Hovdestad, Myron, Shirley (Vern) and Larry (Wendy).

Funeral Services will be held at Peace Lutheran Church (14640 – 6th Street S.W., Calgary, AB) on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow at the church. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Ron’s family here.

In living memory of Ronald Olson, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.