Rodney Dean Olson of Oro Valley, Ariz., passed on in Tucson, Ariz., Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011.
Rod was born Feb. 27, 1932, the son of Oscar and Inga Olson in Watertown, S.D. He grew up on a farm in rural Canby, and he graduated from Canby High School in 1950. After working in the oil fields of Northern Alaska, Rod served in the submarine service of the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict aboard the U.S.S. Catfish and the U.S.S. Remora. In 1958 Rod received his Bachelor of Arts-Political Science from San Diego State University, and following that a law degree from Southwestern University in 1964. While pursuing his graduate and post graduate degrees, Rod lived in Southern California and worked as a contract analyst for Convair, and later in the land lease department for Shell Oil Company.
In 1957, Rod married Charlene "Char" Crosby in Glendale, Calif., and they moved to a new home in Escondido, Calif. In 1962 they welcomed their first child, Garth, and then in 1964 they welcomed their second son, Matthew. In 1965 the Olsons moved to Bakersfield, Calif., after Rodney was hired to be a deputy district attorney for Kern County, Calif. In the summer of 1967 the Olson family moved to Rochester, where Rodney joined the staff of the Mayo Clinic. For many years Rod was the head of the personal services and benefits department. After Mayo opened clinics in Jacksonville and Scottsdale, Rod worked closely with the staff at those organizations as well, and Char would often accompany him on long trips to Florida and Arizona. After his retirement in early 1997, Rod and Charlene decided to become full-time residents of Arizona, eventually settling in Oro Valley, Ariz.
He is survived by his children, Garth of Seattle, Wash., and Matthew with wife, Patricia, of Oro Valley, Ariz.; along with Rod’s two grandchildren, Daniel and Benjamin; his sisters, Mildred Corvin and family of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Phyllis Anderson and family of Fresno, Calif.; his brother, Lyle and family of Burnsville; and the family of his brother, Howard of Edina. He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlene, his parents and his brothers, Don and Howard.
Rodney will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, committed to family, a supportive father, for his hard work ethic on the farm and at work, and for his endearing kindness to relatives, friends, co-workers and strangers.
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He enjoyed learning and speaking Spanish, farming, cutting wood, being a member of veteran’s organizations, farming, polka dancing, physical fitness, farming, smoking the occasional cigar, telling Norwegian jokes, farming, reading books on theology and Christian prophesy, talking about his tractors and farming, working as a Deacon at his local Baptist church in Arizona, serving in various capacities at his Lutheran churches in Minnesota, plowing snow, farming, coffee with cinna-bites or ice cream, "near" beer with tomato juice in it, farming, Daniel and Benjamin’s two pet dogs, Skipper and Brandi, working in the yard at his and Matt’s house, and lest we forget to mention it — farming.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, at 1 p.m., at Canyon Del Oro Baptist Church, 9200 North Oracle Road in Tucson, Ariz. Rod’s long-time friend Pastor Len Karlberg will officiate.
Flowers may be sent directly to the church for the memorial service. Canyon Del Oro Baptist Church may be reached at: 520-297-3900.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to Child Fund International, P.O. Box 26507, Richmond, VA 23261. Please note "In memory of Rodney D. Olson."
