Dennis Harris Olson

Dennis was born in Sharon, ND on April 26, 1923 at home. Hismother was assisted by a midwife and his father paid $5.00 for
the delivery. He attended schools in Sharon, Fargo andMinot, ND. Dennis and Elwin lived with Rudolph and Ella on the farm
part of the time when they were teenagers. They worked onthe farm but neither of them enjoyed the experience. The depression years were difficult for all families and especially so forfarming families during the drought years. Dennis graduated from Minot High School in 1942. He worked in Idaho as a carpenter'shelper. then as a shipfitter at Todd Seattle Dry Docks, Seattle, Washington. He joined the Marine Corps in March 1943, Boot Camp inSan Diego; Radar School at Wright Junior College,
Chicago, IL, Scout and Sniper training, New River, NC; Jungletraining, Samoa. Dennis served in the South Pacific: Tarawa, first campaign and garrison duty 8 months; Kauai, reorganizing batallion6 months; Guam, second campaign, reorganizing and training;Okinawa, third campaign and preparing for Japan invasion.
When Dennis returned from WW II he attended the University ofMinnesota, School of Business Administration on the GI bill and graduated in 1949. Dennis married Marie Stoumbis in Minot, NDSeptember 3, 1949 and they moved to Los Angeles, California.
In 1950 when USA became involved in the Korean War, he wascommissioned Second Lieutenant, U. S. Air Force 452 Lt. BombWing as a supply officer. He was honorably discharged before activeservice in 1951.
Dennis worked in the real estate business for a time. In1952 he went to work for Weiser Lock Company and retired from there in 1986. He progressed from field man to territory manager toregional manager. The last 12 years he was district managerresponsible for sales in the Midwest and later in the Western states andAlaska. The lived in Southern California, Sacramento,Campbell, San Jose, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Chicago, Illinois. Dennisand Marie moved to Nevada City in 1986.
Dennis was a member of Frank Gallino Post 130, The Veteransof Foreign Wars, the Military Order of Devil Dogs. He was a
charter member and commandant of the Marine Corps League, TheGold Country Detachment No. 885. He was also a member of theNational Rifle Association and Pioneer Arts. He enjoyed watercolorpainting and story writing. He was involved in writing abook about his World War II experiences at the time of his death. Hecollected guns through the years.
Dennis suffered from crippling arthritis, had triple bypasssurgery, and on February 9, 2004 colon cancer surgery. He died on February 21, 2004. The Gold Country Marine Detachment conducted thememorial service for Dennis on March 1, 2004 at the VeteransHall in Grass Valley. Dennis was buried at Greenwood Cemetery, GrassValley.

Book finished by Karl Eriksen - name. etc.