Obituaries: Ronald G. Olson (Sept. 18, 1942 – Feb. 12, 2011)

Ronald G. Olson began a new adventure with God at sunrise on Feb. 12, 2011, after a valiant struggle with cancer. At his side was his wife of 49 years and his two sons.

He was born in Longview, Wash., on the 18th of September, 1942. After the war, Ron’s family moved to Napa, Calif., in 1946.  He graduated from Napa High School in 1960, where he met, became engaged and on Dec. 3, 1961, married Wayneen, his high school sweetheart. Ron worked for many years in the Napa area at local grocery stores including Purity and Vallerga’s Markets. In 1985 Ron followed a life-long dream and traveled north to Klamath River, where Ron and his wife, Wayneen, purchased Quigley’s Store and RV Park. Ron welcomed all of his customers, new and old, with a warm smile. Quigley’s was sold in 2007 so that Ron could follow one more dream and build his house on the hill in Siskiyou County overlooking the Klamath River.

As a youth Ron succeeded in track and baseball and enjoyed hours of working on and fixing cars with his father. Ron grew to love flying, both snow and water skiing, hunting, fishing, and camping. Ron also loved mining gold from Beaver Creek and would spend hours teaching anyone interested the basics of finding the good stuff.  He also loved and received great satisfaction by giving to others through his volunteerism with the Yount Lions Club (10 years), Yreka Elks Lodge (25 years) and the Klamath River Volunteer Fire Department (25 years).

Ron’s greatest passion was his family and friends and he will be greatly missed by his wife, Wayneen of Klamath River; son Glen and his wife Debbie plus their children, Taylor, Lindsey and Alicia of Crescent City, and son Matthew and his wife Shaunna plus their children, Amanda, Haley and Ryan of Napa, Calif. Also surviving Ron are his loving mother, Loretta Olson, sister, Norma Retzlaff of Clackamas, Ore., and a brother, Dennis, of Aurora, Ore. He also leaves a loving mother-in-Law, Agnes Williams of Napa, brother and sister-in-law, Arlan and Karen Williams of Benicia, Calif., as well as many more aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and Ron’s second family of Klamath River friends. 

Services for Ron will be Thursday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m. at Girdner’s Funeral Home, Yreka, Calif., followed by a reception at the Yreka Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Klamath River Volunteer Fire Department or to a charitable organization of your choice. Girdner Funeral Chapel is assisting the family. On-line condolences may be made at www.girdnerfuneralchapel.com.

— Submitted by Girdner Funeral Chapel