Dean Howard Olsen

Dean was born March 27, 1926 to the union of John and Dagma (Thompsen) Olsen of Missouri Valley, Iowa. Dean was preceded in death by his parents , brother Glen Olsen of Persia, Iowa, sister Loretta Christensen of Council Bluffs, Iowa, life partner of 25 years Evelyn Suverkrubbe, grandson John Bighia and granddaughter Jennifer (Bowling) Renolds. Dean Olsen is survived by his nine children. Sons, Gary D. Olsen & wife Janet; Michael E. Olsen and wife Susan; John E. Olsen & wife Cathy; daughters, Rita Fidler & husband Russell; Bonnie Francis & husband Martin; Sandra Luna & husband Vince all of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Linda Olsen of Derby, Kansas, Connie Treat & husband Bud of Meeker, Oklahoma and Debra Thacker of Destin, Florida; brothers, Eugene Olsen & wife Betty of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Kenneth Olsen & wife Marilyn of Tulsa, Oklahoma; sisters, Ester Nelson of Neola, Iowa, Bernice Hooge & husband Lowell of Council Bluffs, Iowa; 27 grandchildren, 61 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and a host of other family and friends. Dean was inducted into the United States Army on January 24, 1945 at Ft. Levenworth, Kansas and after a tour of duty in the Phillippines returned to the States and was discharged on November 25, 1946 at Camp Beale, California. Dean farmed in the Missouri Valley and Beebeetown area until 1954 when he took a job at Armour and Company and eventually moving his family to Omaha, Nebraska. Dean worked as an inspector for Armour until they closed their doors in 1968. Dean secured a job with Western Electric prior to Armour shutting down and worked both jobs full time for six months. He retired April 28, 1989 after 21 years of service. Dean was not one to sit idle so the following spring he took a part time job at Bag & Save Grocery Stores as a sack boy, and after a short time he was promoted to cold beer and dairy manager and continued working there full time for another six years. Visitation with the family is Wednesday 6-8PM at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home & Crematory. Memorial service is Thursday 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. A reception will follow the service in the Hoy-Kilnoski Community Room. Inurnment will take place after the reception in the Grange Cemetery. The family will direct memorials.