Dennis Albert Olsen, 84, passed February 10, 2026 at his home with his wife of 57 years at his side. Dennis was born in Toledo, Washington, the fourth of six children of Albert RH Olsen and Hazle (Foister) Olsen. He was raised on the farm homesteaded by his great grandparents at Ethel, Washington.
In school, Dennis was active in FFA and Student Body leadership and enjoyed choir and played the tuba. He graduated from Onalaska High School in 1960. After a brief time at Washington State College (now WSU) and Centralia Community College, he entered the United States Marine Corps in 1962. Dennis was honorably discharged as a Seargent (E-5) in January 1966. He logged more than 50,000 miles on Navy ships, travelling through the Panama Canal to Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and then serving in both Japan and Okinawa. His time as a Marine strongly influenced the rest of his life.
Dennis joined the Tacoma Laborers Union Local 252 in 1966, beginning work at the Mossyrock Dam. His membership would last more than 50 years, and this work was what let the family grow up farming and ranching. He worked bridge deck repair projects and could tell you the history of bridges all over the state. He loved a good project and pouring concrete.
Dennis returned to Washington State College in 1967, recognizing a girl in his Anthropology class who had graduated from Onalaska High School. In November, he gave her a ride home in his blue '67 Camaro for Thanksgiving break and by the semester break, they were engaged. He married Julie Lester in June 1968 at the Presbyterian Church in Onalaska. They returned to WSC for another year to finish his degree and then made their home at Ethel. They sold the Camaro and bought a truck and started their own cattle herd. Their first four children (Ole, Annie, Kate and Gus) were born during this time.
In 1979, they moved from the family farm to their own place in the Badger Pocket area of the Kittitas Valley. The farm was 700 acres, including sagebrush range and their first experience with irrigated land. Here they raised cattle and timothy/alfalfa hay, while they worked to improve the irrigation systems, built a house and barn and welcomed two more children (Gunner and J.B.).
In 1994, after the Yakima Training Center expansion took most of the farm, Dennis moved the family to the ranch on the Kettle River in Ferry County. They continue to raise hay and build a fine red angus herd that runs on Graphite Range in the summer. He built a barn and shop over the years and converted the irrigation to center pivots on most of the hay ground. Dennis also built a hoop house for Julie and together they produced raspberries, strawberries, peppers and tomatoes sold locally. Dennis loved his flowers, especially the dahlias.
Dennis enjoyed a good auction, going to farm, livestock and even storage auctions and bringing home all kinds of treasures. Selecting bulls for the red angus herd was especially fun for him. He studied catalogs and went to Leachman and Ludvigson auctions in Montana over the years and then started sending Ole. The advent of virtual auctions let him watch from home, but he still tasked Ole with making the bids.
Dennis is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Loretta Schindler, Effie Olsen, and Suzanna Hill, and brother-in-law Jack Aselton. He is survived by his wife Julie at home, his children Ole (Melee), Anna (Jerry), Kate (David), Gus (Kate), Gunner, and J.B. (Ashley), his sister Donna Aselton, brother Ken Olsen, sister-in-law Gayla Guenther (David), a dozen grandchildren (Peter, Jessica, Bryan, and Derik Johnson; Jerome, Chyanne, and Sydney Lael; Grant and Carter Olsen; Maggie and Garrik Olsen; and Cory Olsen), two great grandchildren (Brandon and Blakelynn), and numerous nieces and nephews.
A military honors service for Dennis is scheduled for 1:00 Wednesday February 25, 2026, at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery - Medical Lake (21702 W Espanola Rd, Medical Lake, WA) with a reception following at the Tyler Grange (23905 S B St, Cheney, WA).
The family would like to thank Hospice of Spokane for their services that allowed Dad to come home, and the neighbors on Kroupa Road and beyond who visited, brought food and ran errands.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Bergh Funeral Service of Oroville. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.berghfuneralservice.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arden Fire Rescue SCFD 7 (649 Elm Tree Dr Colville, WA 99114) who transported Dad home free of charge to begin hospice care after a long battle with cancer.