Raymond “Ray” Arthur Olson

Raymond “Ray” Arthur Olson peacefully passed away with family at his bedside in Billings, on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at age 100. Ray was born January 17, 1922, the fifth of 10 children of Arthur and Elizabeth (Plunkett) Olson. He was born during a terrible blizzard on their homestead near Franklin, MT. As the family grew and the homestead dried out, they moved to Wallum, then Windham for the kids to go to school, afterwards moving to Merino to farm. Ray attended Merino country school from first to seventh grade and Geyser for junior high and high school. At Geyser, Ray was part of the first six-man football team and, during his senior year, was team captain, where along with his buddies, he played numerous pranks.

After graduating in 1940 from Geyser High School, Ray went to work for Great Northern Railroad on a bridge-crew. In 1941, he went to Spokane, WA, to attend radio-tech school. On July 10, 1942, Ray enlisted in the Navy as a 3rd class radio technician. Ray was assigned to VF-32 Air Group, serving as Chief Radio Technician aboard the USS Langley and USS Cabot aircraft carriers, which were part of the Pacific Fleet Task Force 58 (consisting of over 100 warships). Ray was honorably discharged on January 8, 1946 in Bremerton, WA.

In the fall of ’46, Ray started college at Montana State in Bozeman, transferred to College of Great Falls and later to Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, where he graduated in 1951 with a BS in Education. On October 20, 1951, Ray married his college sweetheart, Mary Agnes Farnik, in Great Falls, MT. They moved to Spokane, where Ray went to work for Farmers Insurance Group as a claims adjuster. This was the start of his 32-year tenure with Farmers. He was transferred to Lewiston, ID, and then to Billings, MT, where he became the Special Truck & Heavy Equipment Adjuster for 32 years, retiring in 1984. In Billings, Ray was instrumental in developing and serving in the Billings Adjuster Association, a group of professionals from varying companies who shared their experiences and expertise as comrades. Ray was also a lifetime member of both the Knights of Columbus and Elks.

Ray and Mary were charter members of St. Pius X Parish and faithful participants in its growth and development. Devotion toward saying the rosary started early and continued to the final days of his life. The family often said the rosary together, instilling faith in all 11 children from an early age. Ray was an active leader in the Serra Club of Billings, an organization that promoted and fostered vocation of young men to the priesthood and women to religious life.

When Ray brought his family to Billings in 1954, there were two children, and over the next 16 years, the family grew to 11 children. Ray loved his family and was a devoted father. He enjoyed watching the children participate in sports, taking them to the bowling alley to watch him compete, and celebrating each holiday and birthday. Ray got the entire family out in nature and demonstrated a strong work ethic by gathering wood in the Bull Mountains, picking asparagus in the spring and mounds of chokecherries in the summer. His home was his hobby. The fireplace was a proud, focal spot in the living room, where piles of wood were neatly stacked, where his daughters dried their hair at night before bed, where bridge was played with friends, and conversations were shared. Ray created a welcoming home, enjoyed for years by family and friends.

He was preceded in death by loving wife, Mary; his parents; brothers Oliver “Bud,” David and Joseph; sisters, Selene, Margaret, Mary Faith, Pearl, Eva and Frances; son, Timothy Arthur Olson; and daughter, Sharon Yvonne Pierre.

He is survived by his children, Michelle Olson of Billings, Don (Karen) Olson of Redlands, CA, Karen Marie Olson of Billings, Denise Frey (Mike Farnik) of Hingham, MT, Debbie (Mike) Sevier of Glendive, MT, Diane Olson (Naseer Kashmir) of Japan, John (Joyce) Olson of Billings, Paulette (Jack) DeLeonardo of Buckeye, AZ, Kristie Olson of Billings; son-in-law John Pierre of Laramie, WY; as well as grandchildren Adrian, Katherine, Lauren, Jennifer (Robert), Kevin (Heidi), Linda, Alex (Erika), Michaela (Nick), Jhazmin, Daron (Ashley), Hanna (Ben), Jessica, Nicholas, Denise (Aaron), Brian (Rebecca); and great-grandchildren, Luella, Kaleah, Keegan, Hazel, Avery, Chloe, Wesley, Everett, Karmella, Cruz, Kintla, Henley, Rory, Timothy and Victoria.

The Olson siblings want to express our most sincere thanks for the graciously devoted and daily demonstration of care toward our dad, by the incredible nurses and staff of Westpark Village, the special Visiting Angels who enhanced his quiet time, the individuals from St. John’s Hospice who comforted him with medical attention and tenderhearted care, and the VA Home Health Team who offered medical expertise and insight to all of us during the last years of Ray’s life. We kindly thank you all!

A kind and generous man, Ray will be deeply missed and remain forever in our hearts.

Michelotti-Sawyers has been entrusted with the arrangements. A vigil/rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. The memorial mass will be at  11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, at St. Pius X Church, 717 18th St. West (live streaming will be available). A Celebration of Life following the memorial will be held at the Columbia Club, 2216 Grand Ave.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Pius X Church, 717 18th St. West, Billings, MT 59102; Special Olympics of Montana, PO Box 3507, Great Falls, MT 59403; or a charity of your choice.