Marion Oldham Olsen

Marion O. Olsen, 98, a lifetime resident of Paradise, passed away peacefully of TMB (too many birthdays) Sunday morning, October 26, 2008.
Marion was born June 8, 1910, in Paradise, Utah to Gideon E. and Mary Oldham Olsen. He married Lenore Rock in Salt Lake City on April 16, 1932. Their marriage was solemnized in the Logan Temple on March 21, 1939.
Marion lived a full life of service and is generally recognized as having been the right man in the right place at the right time. Marion was one of the first to go into Utah's turkey business. He raised turkeys for 30 years, helped form the Trenton Feed Coop, and was president of the Utah Turkey Federation. He put together a fine farm, raised purebred Suffolk sheep and beef cattle along with the turkeys which provided employment for many young men in Paradise.
As a young man Marion received the first Eagle Scout award presented in Paradise and was also a recipient of the Silver Beaver and became a James E. West fellow. Scouting was a life time passion for him. As president of the Cache Valley Boy Scout Council, he was instrumental in helping procure the property for the Hull Valley Scout Reservation and Aspen Ridge scout camp. Perhaps his greatest pastimes and interests lie in people and the out of doors. Marion could strike up a conversation with anyone. He loved to spend a summer evening telling tales of the out of doors and bear stories to a bunch of wide-eyed young people around a campfire.
Marion's first boy scout merit badge was Conservation. He was a practical conservationist all his life and a recognized authority on water management. His concern for water development resulted in service as a member of the Water Users Association and on the Utah Water and Power Board and the Utah Water Resource Board. His experience was useful in helping obtain approval and funding for the construction of Porcupine Dam in East Canyon and the development and construction of the Porcupine High Line Irrigation system. He served on the county and state Farmers' Home Administration boards and was one of the organizers of the Blacksmith Fork Soil Conservation District. Marion was honored in Washington DC by the Department of Agriculture for his conservation service.
Mr. Olsen was active in community affairs having served as Mayor of Paradise, a member of the Paradise Town Board, chairman of the Cache County Republican Party, and as a Cache County Commissioner for 14 years. He was a charter member of the Paradise Lions Club and remained active for over 50 years.
Marion was an active member of the LDS Church. He served as Bishop of the Paradise Ward where he helped to raise building funds for the restoration and addition to the original Paradise Ward building. He was a member of the Hyrum Stake High Council and later served as an officiator in the Logan Temple. He was instrumental in helping secure the Cinnamon Creek recreation property for the church.
Marion loved Cache Valley and during his later years enjoyed nothing more than touring its roads, rural communities, and especially checking out the water level of Porcupine Dam. He will be remembered and greatly missed by all those who have crossed his path and especially by his grandchildren and great grandchildren for his genuine interest, concern and his unconditional love and acceptance of them as individuals. Marion was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, his 3 brothers and 5 sisters. He is survived by his two daughters, Geraldine (J. LaMar) Anderson and Linda Nell (Carvin) Anderson, 8 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.
The family of Marion Olsen wishes to extend our heartfelt thanks to the staffs of the former Day Care Center, Terrace Grove Assisted Living Center, and Alpine Hospice for their great services extended to our father.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, November 1, 2008 in the Paradise Third Ward Chapel. A viewing for Marion will be held Friday evening, October 31, 2008 from 6 to 8 PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center in Logan, and prior to services on Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. Interment will be at the Paradise Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net
Memorial contributions can be made at the Logan Boy Scout Service Center or to the LDS church's missionary or perpetual education funds.