Shirley M. Olson

Shirley was born on January 9, 1921 to Halvor and Olive (Hefte) Lee on a farm 6 miles NW of Arlington, South Dakota.  She graduated from Arlington High School then went to work as a bookkeeper.  In 1943 she joined the Women’s Army Corp and served 33 months in Texas, Papua New Guinea and Manilla Philippines.  She was a Chief Clerk in the Post Engineers and reached the rank of Staff Sergeant.

On Feb. 7, 1948, she married Ray LeVern Olson.  To this union 4 sons were born.   Dale, Reid, Lyle and Dean.  They had a Grade A dairy farm outside of Arlington and farmed for 25 years.  In 1973 they sold the farm and moved to Pierre South Dakota for two years before moving to Boise Idaho.

Shirley worked at the Department of Health & Welfare for the State of Idaho as an Account Technician for 9 ½ years until she retired in 1985.  For many years after retirement Shirley and Ray traveled the country in their motor home towing the car behind, with Shirley driving.  She was a member of The American Legion and VFW.  Shirley was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and enjoyed making quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She also enjoyed sewing, reading, traveling, baking, hunting, watching baseball and fishing with the family.

Shirley passed away peacefully in her home on January 22, 2024.  She is survived by her youngest sister Norma (Verne) Hansen of Volga SD. Her sons Dale (Linda) of Glenrock WY, Reid (Mary) of Chehalis WA, Dean (Jeanne) of Emmett ID.   Her grandchildren Daelynn, April, Josie, Jason, Amber, Jacob, Jordan and Joseph.  Her great-grandchildren Cataleya, Gabriel, Gunnar, Olivia, Ella and Matthew.  Shirley loved and was loved and admired by many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Shirley in death are her husband Ray, son Lyle and grandson Justin.  Also, her parents Halvor and Olive, brothers Royce, Lloyd, Robert, Glen, and sisters Frances, Mavis and Ruth.

Thanks to the staff of the Boise Veterans Administration Medical Center for treating Shirley with respect and dignity.  The staff always made Shirley feel like she was their only patient.  

A special thanks to Shirley’s primary caretakers for her final years; her grandson Jordan, Elena Velazquez, Charla Dudley and Theresa Rogers. Shirley loved them all.

Services in Boise will be on Saturday January 27th at Redeemer Lutheran Church.  A week later on February 3rd there will be another service and burial at Lake Whitewood Lutheran Church near Arlington South Dakota.

For obituary on Johnson & Henry Funeral Home in South Dakota please see link below

crawfordosthus.com/obituary/shirley-olson