Ralph “E” Olson passed away peacefully on August 31, 2016, at Chancellor Gardens Assisted Living Center in Clearfield, Utah, from natural causes incident to advanced age. Ralph was born on September 11, 1925, in Virginia, Idaho, son of Olof Leroy Olson and Edna Rae Erickson. He was raised on a dairy farm and had a happy childhood despite being raised in the midst of The Great Depression. He attended elementary school in Virginia and graduated from Downey High School, Class of 1943. As World War II was raging, he enlisted in the Navy in November of 1943 and attended Boot Camp at Farragut, Idaho. After Boot Camp, he attended Radio School at Miami of Ohio University, located at Oxford, Ohio. Upon graduation, he was deployed to Pearl Harbor where he awaited orders that assigned him to the USS Massachusetts on October 1, 1944. He endured many of the major Pacific sea battles, which resulted in his receiving several military decorations. After his arrival home, he rekindled his friendship with Colleen Merrill, a beautiful girl from Swan Lake, Idaho. They were married on February 25, 1947, in Swan Lake, Idaho. In 1975 Ralph and Colleen were sealed for time and eternity in the Logan, Utah LDS temple. They established residence in Virginia, Idaho and were blessed with six children. In 1960, he purchased his father’s family farm and operated a dairy herd and grew row crops. Ralph was an extremely efficient farmer who always employed the latest technology. Ralph’s conservative nature, frugality, and ultimate handy-man skills saved his family countless repair costs and unnecessary purchases. His interests included woodworking, hunting, gardening, reading, crossword puzzles, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Ralph was always eager to serve where needed and was a mentor and friend to many in the community. Ralph’s appetite for knowledge and learning motivated him to use his woodworking and organizational skills to improve the Downey branch of the South Bannock Library District. For sixteen years (1992-2008) Ralph gave dedicated service as a Board of Trustee member, also serving as the Board Chair. Ralph was a member of the American Legion Veterans Organization, Post 21, for 70 years. There he influenced many lives for good, serving as the Post Commander and performing military rites at numerous military services. Ralph is survived by three sons, Steven Ralph Olson (Beverly) of Woodburn, OR, Lee Merrill Olson (Peggy) of Perry, UT, and Robert Roy Olson (Brenda) of Pocatello, ID, as well as his daughter, Adele Olson Mosher of Clearfield, UT. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Colleen Merrill Olson, a daughter, Christine Olson, son Eric Duane Olson (Kris) and son-in-law, Gordon William Mosher. Ralph had 14 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2016, at 11:00 in the Downey LDS Ward Chapel. Friends may visit with the family on Saturday morning at the church from 9:30 -10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Downey Cemetery.