Roger Lee Olson

Celebration of life service for Roger Lee Olson will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Mr. Dave Thorell officiating. Interment will be held in the Moses Hill Cemetery in rural Phelps County, Nebraska with military rites provided by Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the United States Navy Military Honors Team.

Roger Lee Olson, 73 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at his home in Holdrege. Roger was born April 16, 1943 on the family farm near Leigh in Colfax County, Nebraska, the eldest child born to Alfred and Hulda (Marty) Olson. He received his education at Pilger, Leigh and Columbus, Nebraska.

Following his education, Roger was inducted into the United States Navy, serving his country on the Aircraft Carrier, Ticonderoga for three years until his honorable discharge in 1964. Roger then began a long career with Becton Dickinson beginning in Columbus, Nebraska until transferring for an advancement to the Holdrege plant. After 33 years of service, Roger retired in 1998. During his retirement years, he was employed in sales for Town & Country Auto in Holdrege until 2003 at which time he began to enjoy full retirement taking care of his home and sitting in the sun.

While at BD in Holdrege, he met Shirley and they were united in marriage on April 17, 1987. They combined their three children from previous marriages to form a family of five. This coming April they would have celebrated their 30th Anniversary.

Roger enjoyed music, reading, cooking, and most of all his grandchildren. Little ones always gravitated to Roger and knew to follow him around for grapes and junior mints. A highlight of his life was attending their events.
Roger was preceded in death by his mother, Hulda Barr; and sister, Mary Lou Schmidt.

He leaves to celebrate his life; his wife, Shirley Olson of Holdrege; two sons: Cory Olson and his wife, Jen of Melbourne, Florida and R Dusenbery and his wife, Shannon of Lincoln, Nebraska; daughter, Nicole Dusenbery of Holdrege; four grandchildren: Morgan and Ashley Dusenbery of Lincoln and James and Kathryn Olson of Melbourne; two brothers: John Olson and his wife, Marlene and Ralph Olson and his wife, Phyllis all of Columbus; one sister, Cindy Haave and her husband, Steve of Arvada, Colorado; three brothers-in-law: Jerry Schmidt of Columbus, John Hanson and his wife, Cathy of Lexington, Nebraska and Steve Hanson of Damar, Kansas; one sister-in-law, Marjorie Baxter of Holdrege; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Roger's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.