Gilbert Olson

Gilbert Olson, 89, died May 23, 2011, at Medcenter One Hospital, Bismarck. Services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, June 4, 2011, at First Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with Rev. Allen Wagner and Rev. Robert Lynne officiating. The family will be greeting visitors from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Friday, June 3, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck. Gilbert was born November 23, 1921, in Bismarck, ND, the son of John and Bertha Nylen Olson. He graduated from Bismarck High School in 1939 and from the University of North Dakota in 1943. Gil played basketball at both Bismarck High School and UND and played with the Bismarck Phantoms Basketball team following his return from the war. He joined the US Marine Corp Reserve in 1942 and was called to active duty in 1943. He completed boot camp at Paris Island and then was assigned to Officers Candidate School at Quantico, VA. This was followed by Reserve Officers Class. His first and only active duty was Commanding Officer of Marine Detachment aboard the troop transport U.S.S. Wakefield. He served aboard this ship until being honorably discharged in 1946. The ship made 22 trips to various ports in Europe and to the Mediterranean Sea. The last trip was in the Pacific Ocean carrying Marines for the landing in Japan. Upon his return to Bismarck, Gil became associated with Quain & Ramstad Clinic in the administration department. He retired in 1986. Gil was active in civic affairs of the city; he served on the Civil Service Commission, Parking Authority, the Civic Center Committee and School Board Committees. He was a member of the Medical Group Management Association in North Dakota and a national member of the Exchange Club. Gil was also active in the American Legion, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Bismarck-Mandan Elks Club, and past-president of the Chamber of Commerce. He served on the board of the Tom & Francis Leach Foundation from November 1981 until 2006, with distributions to charities since 1981 in excess of 8 million dollars. Gil was also a member of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation Board of Directors. He was chairman of committee for development of Hillside Park and Swimming Pool after WWII. Gil was a member of First Lutheran Church. He married Carolyn Rooth, of Mandan, in Minneapolis, MN, on November 13, 1948. She passed away on December 1, 1992. Gil is survived by his sons, Marc Renee, Grand Forks, ND, and Greg Paulette, White Bear Lake, MN; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn; his parents, John and Bertha Olson; and his sister, Christine Jarvis, Kalamazoo, MI. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First Lutheran Church or the Medcenter One Foundation.

Gilbert Olson

November 23, 1921 - May 23, 2011