Roger Dean Olson

Roger Dean Olson passed away at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer on May 10, 2010, of chronic lung disease.

He and his twin brother Ronnie were born Sept. 22, 1939, in Lafayette County, Wisc. They were adopted from an orphanage in Sparta, Wis., by Bill and Grace Young and were raised in Boscobel, Wis.. He graduated high school in Wisconsin and went on to join the Army.

He served in the Army from 1962 to 1964, which brought him to Alaska. He worked many jobs from firefighter, foreman on the Slope and road construction worker to cleaning up the oil spill in Valdez.

His most recent residence was Primrose Retirement Community in Wasilla, but he was best known in Palmer for being a security guard at the state fair and his involvement with children in sports.

Roger had a huge heart. He never had a lot, but would give you everything he had. He enjoyed just having coffee and talking. He loved striking up a conversation with people he didn’t even know. He loved kids and coached baseball and basketball, as well as being an umpire for softball. He was a big Braves and Packers fan.

He always had a smile and was always cracking a joke, saying things like how he wished he had been born rich instead of so good looking.

He touched the hearts of people everywhere he went and we are better for having known him.

He is survived by his daughters Catherine Olson of Palmer, Cori Barber (Sean Barber) of Palmer, Sonya Maxwell (Jeff Maxwell) of Wasilla; step-son William DeHart of Indianapolis and son Bryan Olson of Anchorage. He is also survived by many grandchildren including Ashley, Billy, Alexis and Bryan DeHart, all from Indianapolis; Bailey and Brock Maxwell of Wasilla, and Brittney and Braydn Barber of Palmer. He is also survived by ex-wives Diana Olson of Palmer and Beverly Sawyer of Anchorage.

Services will be held at Valley Funeral Home in Palmer on Tuesday at noon. There will be a viewing at 11 a.m.