Lloyd Dexter Olson

He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Dorothy (Barich) Olson, seven children, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Born on Sept. 11, 1934, in Duluth, Minnesota, the son of John and Alice Olson lived in Hyak, Wash., before moving to South Cle Elum.

A 1951 Cle Elum High graduate, Lloyd joined the Navy during the Korean War.

After the military, Lloyd earned a B.A. degree in education at Central Washington University and a Master’s degree at Washington State University.

Lloyd spent his professional career in public education. He taught at Franklin Elementary in Pullman, Wash., before serving as principal in 1960. Lloyd was the school superintendent in Prescott, Wash., from 1970 to 1976 and in Chimacum, Wash., from 1976 to 1990.

In retirement, Lloyd was an active member of the VFW and Kiwanis Club, and served on the Cle Elum City Council. Lloyd assisted with school levy campaigns, filled in as a substitute principal and interim superintendent at local schools and lobbied for hospital administration. His volunteer efforts helped create Cle Elum’s Veteran’s Wall and town-square flagpole. In 2013, he won the Pangrazi Award for his contributions as a community leader.

Lloyd was a devoted family man. He and Dorothy raised seven children: Martha, Susie, John, Ruth, Sarah, Mike and Mary. He adored his 12 grandchildren (Rachel, Ryan, Anne, Jon-Erik, Daniel, Emily, Andrew, Katie, Natalie, Jane, Calvin and Nick, as well as great-granddaughter, Aria.)

A remembrance service is scheduled for October 1st, 12:00 Noon at the Putnam Centennial Center in Cle Elum. Memorial donations can be made to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, P.O. Box 190, Cle Elum, WA 98922.