Col. Eugene T. Gene Olson, (Ret.), 90

Colonel Eugene T. Gene Olson (Ret.), 90, passed away at Brendan House on April 29, 2010. His grandfather homesteaded near Lincoln, and his father as a young man guarded the silver shipments on the stage coach run between Virginia City and Helena. His father later ranched near Helena, and met and married his mother there. He was born in Alberta, Canada on Nov. 30,1919, when his parents were visiting his mother s parents. Soon afterward, they returned to Montana. As Gene grew older he attended schools in Great Falls, Fort Peck and Butte. He graduated from high school in Cut Bank. Gene then attended Montana State University at Bozeman on a basketball scholarship, and while there, met and married a lovely Norwegian girl, Agnes (Kit). They were married for 63 years. After college, he entered the U.S. Army. It was World War II, and he fought in France and Germany. As Commander of Slavic and German P.O.W. Stockades in France and England, he was instrumental in dispersing them to various units. After the war, he attended and taught military law in the Provost Marshal General School. He was then selected for four years of graduate work in Soviet public law at Columbia University in New York, and in Soviet Geopolitics at the Institute for Advanced Soviet and East European Studies in Germany. As a Diplomatic courier, he traveled extensively in Russia and Eastern Europe, and was able to smuggle then-forbidden Bibles into Russia. Later, while assigned in Washington D.C., he became an advisor on Soviet affairs to the secretary of agriculture when Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union, and his minister of agriculture visited the United States. Serving for several years as special assistant to several different cabinet members in Washington, D.C., he conducted their visits to the Soviet Union, and then also escorted Soviet officials visiting the United States. Later he was asked to organize and accompany U.S. trade-promoting groups traveling to major countries around the world. His last assignment, six years before his retirement, was as a United States attache in the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada. His military awards included the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, American Theater Ribbon, European Theater Ribbon with two battle stars, Victory Medal, Army Occupation Ribbon with German clasp, and the Combat Infantry Badge. Through the years and the ups and downs, he gave thanks to his Savior for His abiding love and guidance day by day, and also for a loving wife who was always there with loving help and prayers. As he said, It s been a good life together, and the best is yet to come; thanks be to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. This well-traveled and educated man who has been involved with world leaders, at the same time truly knows the One who created the world, who had a deep, abiding love for his dear wife and loved the Lord God with all his heart; there s only one man, one crown jewel hand-crafted by God that fits the description: Colonel Eugene Olson. Gene was very active with the Gideons in placing Bibles. He was very active with the Kalispell Foursquare Church, and devoted his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Myrtle and Charlie Olson; dear wife, Agnes; and brother, Jack Edgar. He is survived by his daughter, Ardis Ardy Adams and husband Joe of Maryville, Tenn.; nephew, John Edgar of Thailand; niece, Angie Colombini of Santa Rosa, Calif.; grandchildren, Mike and Tracie Adams of Atlanta, Ga., and Jim and Heather Adams of Easley, S.C.; great-grandchildren, David, Brett, Andy and Libby; great-niece, Amee and Jim Knight of Santa Barbara, Calif.; great-nephews, Mike and Amy Edgar of Sacramento, Calif., and Cameron Boles of Bakersfield, Calif.; great-great-nephews, Luke and Keef; and a great-great-niece, Clare. Visitation for Gene will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 2, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 3, at the Kalispell Foursquare Church, with burial following at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Friends are encouraged to visit www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.