On Sunday November 10, 2019 just before midnight Leo R. Olsen, loving husband and father of four children passed away in Pocatello, Idaho at the Idaho Veterans Home of natural causes at the age of 96.
Richard Leo Olsen was born on October 4, 1923 in Blackfoot, Idaho. He was the only child of Richard Edward Olsen and Mariam Annie ( Turpin ) Olsen. The Olsen family lived in Springfield, Idaho. Young Leo grew up on the farm learning to love animals, especially dogs and a white-faced mare named Bally. He made many friends in his young years while riding his horse and swimming in Springfield Lake. Fishing became a lifelong joy and many days Leo could be found alone on the banks of the lake learning to outwit Brown Trout.
Leo was a quiet boy who idolized his father and teacher of life. Tragedy marked his young life when his happy red headed mother became ill and passed away when he was 12. Leo and his grieving father stayed on the farm until the Great Depression and a local bank failure took the 40-acre farm and home. The two became homeless overnight and moved around the Pingree area looking for what work could be found.
By the time Leo was a senior at Aberdeen High School he received an invitation to try out for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team in the spring of 1942. However, as fate would have it 35 days after his 18th birthday Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Leo joined the Army Air Force three weeks later.
Leo served in several different aircraft in World War II, much of his combat occurred in the interior of a flying tin can named B-17. Leo survived several plane crashes but lived to complete 26 bombing missions over Germany and was honorably released after 2 years of service. While Leo was in a Denver hospital recovering from one of his worst plane crashes he was informed his father had been killed. Leo returned home two days after his father’s funeral and three weeks later was deployed to England to join his crew and take his place in history as a “Flying Fortress” crew member.
Upon discharge from the service Leo returned to the Blackfoot area and re-kindled his love affair with his high school sweetheart. On December 18, 1944 Betty Jo Caldwell became his wife for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple. The young couple moved around Bingham county working and loving life. Leo graduated from Barber College in Boise and worked for decades as a respected Barber and civic minded citizen. He belonged to The Lions club for years and served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While Barbering he also built homes and sold real estate where he was the broker of “Olsen Realty”.
Betty and Leo loved Island Park and taught their children to do the same. Many happy years were spent in cabins on Lodgepole drive and IP Bills Island. During their nearly 70 years of marriage they lived in California, Utah and Quartzite, Arizona.
Leo was known by his friends as a quiet, kind, gentle man. He was also a Good man of Honor.
Leo had four children, Diana Lyn Olsen, Richard Kirk (Lyn) Olsen, Kimberly Ann (Jay) Oberst. Tamara Sue (Brent) Curtis. 13 Grandchildren, 18 Great Grandchildren, 7 Great Great Grandchildren.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Betty Jo; his daughters Diana Lyn and Kimberly Ann. One grandson, Ryan Rasmussen. Two great grandchildren, Madelyn Pearl Olsen and Ryan Maxwell Olsen.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 11am at the Blackfoot 2nd 6th and 9th Wards building at 660 Teton Dr., Blackfoot, Idaho. A viewing will be held with family and friends Friday, November 15, 2019 from 6pm through 8pm at the Hawker Funeral Home on Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot and again Saturday morning, one-hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at the Riverside-Thomas Cemetery.
Memories of Leo and condolences to his family can be shared at www.hawkerfuneralhome.com.
Richard Leo Olsen was born on October 4, 1923 in Blackfoot, Idaho. He was the only child of Richard Edward Olsen and Mariam Annie ( Turpin ) Olsen. The Olsen family lived in Springfield, Idaho. Young Leo grew up on the farm learning to love animals, especially dogs and a white-faced mare named Bally. He made many friends in his young years while riding his horse and swimming in Springfield Lake. Fishing became a lifelong joy and many days Leo could be found alone on the banks of the lake learning to outwit Brown Trout.
Leo was a quiet boy who idolized his father and teacher of life. Tragedy marked his young life when his happy red headed mother became ill and passed away when he was 12. Leo and his grieving father stayed on the farm until the Great Depression and a local bank failure took the 40-acre farm and home. The two became homeless overnight and moved around the Pingree area looking for what work could be found.
By the time Leo was a senior at Aberdeen High School he received an invitation to try out for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team in the spring of 1942. However, as fate would have it 35 days after his 18th birthday Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Leo joined the Army Air Force three weeks later.
Leo served in several different aircraft in World War II, much of his combat occurred in the interior of a flying tin can named B-17. Leo survived several plane crashes but lived to complete 26 bombing missions over Germany and was honorably released after 2 years of service. While Leo was in a Denver hospital recovering from one of his worst plane crashes he was informed his father had been killed. Leo returned home two days after his father’s funeral and three weeks later was deployed to England to join his crew and take his place in history as a “Flying Fortress” crew member.
Upon discharge from the service Leo returned to the Blackfoot area and re-kindled his love affair with his high school sweetheart. On December 18, 1944 Betty Jo Caldwell became his wife for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple. The young couple moved around Bingham county working and loving life. Leo graduated from Barber College in Boise and worked for decades as a respected Barber and civic minded citizen. He belonged to The Lions club for years and served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While Barbering he also built homes and sold real estate where he was the broker of “Olsen Realty”.
Betty and Leo loved Island Park and taught their children to do the same. Many happy years were spent in cabins on Lodgepole drive and IP Bills Island. During their nearly 70 years of marriage they lived in California, Utah and Quartzite, Arizona.
Leo was known by his friends as a quiet, kind, gentle man. He was also a Good man of Honor.
Leo had four children, Diana Lyn Olsen, Richard Kirk (Lyn) Olsen, Kimberly Ann (Jay) Oberst. Tamara Sue (Brent) Curtis. 13 Grandchildren, 18 Great Grandchildren, 7 Great Great Grandchildren.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Betty Jo; his daughters Diana Lyn and Kimberly Ann. One grandson, Ryan Rasmussen. Two great grandchildren, Madelyn Pearl Olsen and Ryan Maxwell Olsen.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 11am at the Blackfoot 2nd 6th and 9th Wards building at 660 Teton Dr., Blackfoot, Idaho. A viewing will be held with family and friends Friday, November 15, 2019 from 6pm through 8pm at the Hawker Funeral Home on Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot and again Saturday morning, one-hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at the Riverside-Thomas Cemetery.
Memories of Leo and condolences to his family can be shared at www.hawkerfuneralhome.com.
On Sunday November 10, 2019 just before midnight Leo R. Olsen, loving husband and father of four children passed away in Pocatello, Idaho at the Idaho Veterans Home of natural causes at the age of 96.
Richard Leo Olsen was born on October 4, 1923 in Blackfoot, Idaho. He was the only child of Richard Edward Olsen and Mariam Annie ( Turpin ) Olsen. The Olsen family lived in Springfield, Idaho. Young Leo grew up on the farm learning to love animals, especially dogs and a white-faced mare named Bally. He made many friends in his young years while riding his horse and swimming in Springfield Lake. Fishing became a lifelong joy and many days Leo could be found alone on the banks of the lake learning to outwit Brown Trout.
Leo was a quiet boy who idolized his father and teacher of life. Tragedy marked his young life when his happy red headed mother became ill and passed away when he was 12. Leo and his grieving father stayed on the farm until the Great Depression and a local bank failure took the 40-acre farm and home. The two became homeless overnight and moved around the Pingree area looking for what work could be found.
By the time Leo was a senior at Aberdeen High School he received an invitation to try out for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team in the spring of 1942. However, as fate would have it 35 days after his 18th birthday Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Leo joined the Army Air Force three weeks later.
Leo served in several different aircraft in World War II, much of his combat occurred in the interior of a flying tin can named B-17. Leo survived several plane crashes but lived to complete 26 bombing missions over Germany and was honorably released after 2 years of service. While Leo was in a Denver hospital recovering from one of his worst plane crashes he was informed his father had been killed. Leo returned home two days after his father’s funeral and three weeks later was deployed to England to join his crew and take his place in history as a “Flying Fortress” crew member.
Upon discharge from the service Leo returned to the Blackfoot area and re-kindled his love affair with his high school sweetheart. On December 18, 1944 Betty Jo Caldwell became his wife for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple. The young couple moved around Bingham county working and loving life. Leo graduated from Barber College in Boise and worked for decades as a respected Barber and civic minded citizen. He belonged to The Lions club for years and served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While Barbering he also built homes and sold real estate where he was the broker of “Olsen Realty”.
Betty and Leo loved Island Park and taught their children to do the same. Many happy years were spent in cabins on Lodgepole drive and IP Bills Island. During their nearly 70 years of marriage they lived in California, Utah and Quartzite, Arizona.
Leo was known by his friends as a quiet, kind, gentle man. He was also a Good man of Honor.
Leo had four children, Diana Lyn Olsen, Richard Kirk (Lyn) Olsen, Kimberly Ann (Jay) Oberst. Tamara Sue (Brent) Curtis. 13 Grandchildren, 18 Great Grandchildren, 7 Great Great Grandchildren.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Betty Jo; his daughters Diana Lyn and Kimberly Ann. One grandson, Ryan Rasmussen. Two great grandchildren, Madelyn Pearl Olsen and Ryan Maxwell Olsen.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 11am at the Blackfoot 2nd 6th and 9th Wards building at 660 Teton Dr., Blackfoot, Idaho. A viewing will be held with family and friends Friday, November 15, 2019 from 6pm through 8pm at the Hawker Funeral Home on Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot and again Saturday morning, one-hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at the Riverside-Thomas Cemetery.
Memories of Leo and condolences to his family can be shared at www.hawkerfuneralhome.com.
Richard Leo Olsen was born on October 4, 1923 in Blackfoot, Idaho. He was the only child of Richard Edward Olsen and Mariam Annie ( Turpin ) Olsen. The Olsen family lived in Springfield, Idaho. Young Leo grew up on the farm learning to love animals, especially dogs and a white-faced mare named Bally. He made many friends in his young years while riding his horse and swimming in Springfield Lake. Fishing became a lifelong joy and many days Leo could be found alone on the banks of the lake learning to outwit Brown Trout.
Leo was a quiet boy who idolized his father and teacher of life. Tragedy marked his young life when his happy red headed mother became ill and passed away when he was 12. Leo and his grieving father stayed on the farm until the Great Depression and a local bank failure took the 40-acre farm and home. The two became homeless overnight and moved around the Pingree area looking for what work could be found.
By the time Leo was a senior at Aberdeen High School he received an invitation to try out for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team in the spring of 1942. However, as fate would have it 35 days after his 18th birthday Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Leo joined the Army Air Force three weeks later.
Leo served in several different aircraft in World War II, much of his combat occurred in the interior of a flying tin can named B-17. Leo survived several plane crashes but lived to complete 26 bombing missions over Germany and was honorably released after 2 years of service. While Leo was in a Denver hospital recovering from one of his worst plane crashes he was informed his father had been killed. Leo returned home two days after his father’s funeral and three weeks later was deployed to England to join his crew and take his place in history as a “Flying Fortress” crew member.
Upon discharge from the service Leo returned to the Blackfoot area and re-kindled his love affair with his high school sweetheart. On December 18, 1944 Betty Jo Caldwell became his wife for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple. The young couple moved around Bingham county working and loving life. Leo graduated from Barber College in Boise and worked for decades as a respected Barber and civic minded citizen. He belonged to The Lions club for years and served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While Barbering he also built homes and sold real estate where he was the broker of “Olsen Realty”.
Betty and Leo loved Island Park and taught their children to do the same. Many happy years were spent in cabins on Lodgepole drive and IP Bills Island. During their nearly 70 years of marriage they lived in California, Utah and Quartzite, Arizona.
Leo was known by his friends as a quiet, kind, gentle man. He was also a Good man of Honor.
Leo had four children, Diana Lyn Olsen, Richard Kirk (Lyn) Olsen, Kimberly Ann (Jay) Oberst. Tamara Sue (Brent) Curtis. 13 Grandchildren, 18 Great Grandchildren, 7 Great Great Grandchildren.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Betty Jo; his daughters Diana Lyn and Kimberly Ann. One grandson, Ryan Rasmussen. Two great grandchildren, Madelyn Pearl Olsen and Ryan Maxwell Olsen.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 11am at the Blackfoot 2nd 6th and 9th Wards building at 660 Teton Dr., Blackfoot, Idaho. A viewing will be held with family and friends Friday, November 15, 2019 from 6pm through 8pm at the Hawker Funeral Home on Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot and again Saturday morning, one-hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at the Riverside-Thomas Cemetery.
Memories of Leo and condolences to his family can be shared at www.hawkerfuneralhome.com.
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