Leslie S. Olson
December 7, 1931 - February 17, 2019
Obituary
Leslie S. Olson
Leslie S. (Les) Olson, 87, passed away on February 17, 2019. Les was born December 7, 1931 in Ada, Minnesota, one of five children born to Clarence and Marie (Heiberg) Olson, with siblings Leona, Clarice, Alan and Sonja. After Marie died from cancer, Clarence wed Afton (Hanson) Storms. Afton brought to the family four children from a previous marriage, Lowell, Graydon, Elaine and Howard.
Les graduated from Ada High School in 1949. In 1951, he enlisted in the USAF and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant as a B-25 crew chief. In 1959, he graduated from North Dakota State with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Hired by Boeing, Les and family moved to Seattle. He retired from Boeing in 1992. In 1979, they joined the Des Moines Yacht Club, where he earned the handle “Slugger” because of his slow boat. He and Marlene are also members of Eagles Aerie 362.
Les was known for his great sense of humor. He had a vast treasure trove of jokes and stories (both good and bad) and would pull pranks. You had to guard your butter knife at meals; he would steal the butter off your knife when you weren’t looking!
He loved country western music, crosswords, puns, and Louis L’Amour novels.
Les is survived by Marlene, his bride of 64 years; sister Sonja, stepbrother Howard and stepsister Elaine; son Scott, daughter-in-law Kathi; granddaughter Allena, her husband Jeff, and great-grandchildren Evelyn, Lucy and Henry; grandson Alex and his wife, Amie; daughter Leslie, son-in-law Paul, and grandson Vance; son Steven, daughter-in-law Lauri, and granddaughter Samantha; dozens of nieces and nephews; and innumerable friends. He will be greatly missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 16 at 2:00 PM at Eagles Aerie 362 in Kent, WA. Please dress casually and bring your favorite Les story.
In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial gift to the Museum of Flight Boeing Field in Seattle.
