Kenneth Olsen

Kenneth Archie Olsen, 92, our beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather passed away Thursday, September 25, 2014. He was born September 19, 1922 in Fayette, Utah. Ken wrote the following:



My FAMILY: Parents: Charles Franklin Olsen and Claretta Pearl Hill. Spouse: Geneva Barrett;



My Brothers: Berkley (spouse: Edith divorced; Nancy Rosenthal); Lee (spouse: Jenny); Ben (spouse: Mary Jane); Don (spouse: Bernice); Darwin (spouse: Janet); Douglas;



Jim (spouse: Marilyn); and Sandra (sister).



My Children: Cheryl (Gary) Ransom; Shauna Olsen; Kathy (Mark) Sullivan; DeeAnn (Wade) Hall; Lani (Earl) Koskie; Doug (Becky) Olsen; Dennis (Nikki) Olsen; Keri Olsen.



I have 37 grandchildren and 66 great grandchildren.



I attended Fayette Elementary School where the teacher taught three grades in the same room at the same time. I also attended B.Y.U., Springville Junior High and Springville High School where I played basketball and played baritone in the band. During the great depression we processed three or four beef to share with others and with our hammers we would crack several sacks of wheat for cereal and bread to also share. We wore bib overalls as Sunday best. During the hot summer days sometimes we would take a quick swim in the river to wash up with our clothes on.



WAR TIME: Everyone's lifestyle suddenly changed. Essential food and supplies were rationed. People grew victory gardens and a massive workforce was established. People were frozen to their jobs and couldn't transfer or quit without the approval of the Wartime Commission. Single women were hired and trained as riveters and welders in the airplane and shipyards, thus the name Rosy the Riveter.



During World War II I occupied the position of Shipment Expediter of military supplies and equipment (Pacific Area) for the War Department under civil service appointment. Towards the end of the War I was a coordinator for classified record destruction. Geneva and I took one day off from work to complete our temple marriage in Logan, Utah.



My life has been filled with many fascinating experiences, especially those with my family. I enjoyed watching and seeing my children grow and develop many skills of maturity. This led me to believe the important goals of life were health maintenance, family support, and church support. As a family project, with everyone's help, we converted 90 tall pine trees into a mountain log cabin. Another special family experience was to start and operate a mink ranch for a period of 30 years.



I am an active member of the LDS church and was baptized in the Manti Temple. I have served in many callings including MIA and Sunday School Presidencies, Stake Auditor, Temple Worker, Family History Consultant, Home Teacher, and Secretary to the Senior Adult Aaronic Priesthood. Geneva and I served a welfare mission wherein we assisted people with their spiritual and temporal needs.



For 38 years I was employed by U.S. Steel Corporation (at Geneva Works) as an Auditor, Benefit Analyst, and Manager in Personnel Administration. I served as a Board Member under the Governor's Office to settle occupational injury claims for heavy industry. I also enjoyed serving as an adjunct part time faculty member at B.Y.U. teaching retirement programing and statistics.



For 15 years as a public service, I was a coach and director of youth baseball and basketball in the Orem area. We have also enjoyed being with friendly neighbors and good friends. We have been inspired to see a continual increase in the number of church and temple steeples.



A special thanks to Richard Olsen, M.D. for his friendly professional services.



Funeral Services will be held Monday, September 29, 2014 at l:00 p.m. at the Hillcrest 4th Ward Chapel, 440 East 800 South, Orem. Public Visitation will be held from 11: 30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Chapel. Interment will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery. Please send condolences to Legacy Funeral Home, www. Legacy Funerals.com.