Rita Lavonne Olson

Rita LaVonne Olson was born Rita LaVonne Tucker to Ailene (Gladys) Peterson and Joseph Andrew Tucker on July 13, 1932 in Bismarck, North Dakota. Raised as an only child, her mother worked in the Seattle Shipyards during the Second World War and it was then that she discovered her love of knowledge. Perpetually the smartest person in the room, she graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1950.

She met and married David Edward Olson on November 15, 1952 in Mineral, Montana. She raised four children while working for the US Postal Service until her retirement in 1996. Rita and David Olson would spend the better part of their retirement traveling around the country with family and friends, including time at the family cabin on Cocolalla Lake in northern Idaho.

In her later years, she would enjoy quiet evenings at home showing off her brilliant mind during Jeopardy or chatting with the various friends who would come by to visit. She was a proud Democrat and frequently supported social causes through donations or through her votes.

Tough as nails, she passed away on May 3, 2026, just

two months shy of her 94th birthday. She is predeceased by her husband, David Olson and her oldest son, Dale Olson. She is survived by her daughter Gail (Chad) Chumbley, son Steve (Betsy) Olson, son David Olson, 6 grandchildren, and was known as Grandma Grapes to more than a dozen great grandchildren.