Milford "Mel" Olson

Milford Olson passed away peacefully in Burnaby Hospital on October 6. 2022. He was born at Whitewood SK on 18 May 1930 to Ole and Barbara Olson (nee McKee). He was raised on the family farm and attended Percival school, living in the midst of caring relatives in that community that included his dearly-loved grandmother Carolyn Olson. He was a member of the 4H calf club and enjoyed doing chores and helping with every aspect of farm life. He and brother Clifton eventually took on full responsibility for the farm when their parents went to BC for the winter months.

He responded to the call of the gospel at age eleven, while attending a series of meetings held in Percival School by Arleigh Affleck and one of his fellow-workers. This gave Milford an anchor in his life when he left home at sixteen years, first working on a farm at Rocanville SK, and then at various places in Alberta, including with Albert Colter in a mine prop camp at Cochrane. He eventually arrived in Vancouver, where he learned the plastering trade. He was welcomed as a boarder at the Walter Cormick home and later at the Bessie Gale home. He had a lot of contact with other young friends from SK who had moved to BC, some seasonally and others permanently.

In 1950 Milford’s direction in life was again altered by God, when he was moved to serve as a spiritual shepherd and evangelist following the pattern of the New Testament ministry. After spending five years in this work in BC, Milford felt moved to go to Sweden, where he learned the language and with others, continued the same work that he had been dedicated to in Canada, until he returned to Canada in 1959 due to ill health.

On September 19, 1961, Milford married Phyllis Scott, and they made their home in Calgary AB. It was during their time there that their daughter Valori was born in 1962. They had a number of moves in the years that followed, settling in British Columbia in Dec 1966; their son Timothy was born in New Westminster in 1967. Burnaby became their long-term home in Dec. 1968: they lived on Holdom Avenue for 42 years. During that time, Milford's occupation was truck driving, primarily for Arrow Transportation Systems, and this took him throughout much of North America, including as far south as California and Texas, as far east as Montreal, and as far north as Alaska, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. During these trips, he enjoyed contacting friends and acquaintances along the way, stopping for coffee-shop encounters or for longer 'lay-over' periods.

Milford loved to entertain friends in his home, and music was often included: he enjoyed playing the steel guitar, piano, autoharp, accordion, vibraphone and harmonica. For many years, his greatest joy was in welcoming a group of believers to his home on Sunday mornings for fellowship gatherings. When they moved from their house in 2010, Milford very much appreciated the neighbourly atmosphere at 5280 Oakmount Crescent.

Milford was predeceased by his parents, his brother Clifton, and his sister Lucille. He is survived by his wife Phyllis; daughter Valori (Brent) Manary, and grandchildren Daniel, Daryl (Erica), Michelle, and David (Ashley); also six great-grandchildren; and son Timothy (Paige) and children Sierra and Fraser. Also surviving are his sister-in-law Esther Olson of Regina SK, brother-in-law Lloyd Scott (Ruth) of Bredenbury SK, and sister-in-law Bernice (Don Eagle) of Parksville BC. He is also warmly remembered by Wendy Zou of BC and China, who was as a dear daughter for him.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations are made to a charity of your choice.

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