Neil Andrew Olson, 92, of Centralia, Wash., passed away Sept. 9, 2019, at his home surrounded by his family.
He was born March 18, 1927, to Ray and Grace Olson in rural Windom, Minn.
The family moved to Buckley, Wash., when his father found work in the shipyards during World War II. Neil attended Buckley High School and enlisted in the Untied States Navy upon graduation. He served aboard the U.S.S. Pennsylvania, where he survived a torpedo attack that killed 20 shipmates. He also participated in Operation Crossroads and witnessed the first Bikini Atoll A-bomb test.
Returning to Minnesota after his discharge, he settled into farm life and married Laura Lee Gustafson Feb. 2, 1951. They had five children. In 1968, the family moved to Douglas, Ariz., where Neil managed a fruit orchard. In 1974, the family relocated to Leland, Wash. There, Neil worked for the Crown Zellerbach and Port Townsend paper companies. Upon his retirement, he and Laura returned to Windom raising horses, collecting Americana and traveling the Western United States. In 2002, they made a final move to Washington and settled in Centralia.
Neil was preceded in death by his son, Timothy Jay.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Laura; and daughters, Trudy in Arizona, Mali (Robert) in Washington, Betsy (Randy) in Oklahoma and Amy in Maryland; along with many grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren.
