Quentin Roy Olson

Quentin Roy Olson, age 95, passed away peacefully at home on August 5, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Born on June 17, 1931, in Fosston, Minnesota, Quentin lived a rich, exceptional life defined by devotion to family, service to country, intellectual curiosity and a spirit of adventure.

He grew up on a farm, the seventh of eight children, where they lived in a house built by their father. At eight years old, his chores included milking and feeding dairy cows as well as feeding pigs and chickens. He was a member of the 4H Club and exhibited dairy calves and chickens at the county fair earning first place for his dairy calf and second place for his chickens.

After graduating from Fosston High School, Quentin proudly enlisted in the United States Air Force and began a distinguished military career that would take him around the world. During his more than two decades of service, he was stationed in Texas, the Aleutian Islands, New Mexico, Morocco, Florida, France, Spain, Portugal, Maryland, Germany and North Dakota. He retired with the rank of Master Sergeant on July 1, 1972, after serving his country with honor and dedication.

While stationed in Spain, Quentin met the love of his life, Maria de los Angeles O'Donnell Laguno (Angelines). While stationed in Portugal, he returned to Madrid to marry Angelines on Dec 30, 1959, beginning a loving partnership that would span 66 years. Their first child, Roy, was born in Spain, followed by Carlos and Victoria during Quentin's assignment in Maryland.

Family was the true cornerstone of Quentin’s life. While stationed at Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany, he and Angelines shared the wonders of Europe with their three young children. Together, they embarked on unforgettable camping adventures across Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium—even catching a Formula One Grand Prix. Every summer and Christmas, Quentin packed the family into their 1961 green Rambler station wagon for the long drive to Madrid, ensuring his children built lifelong memories with their Spanish relatives. Seeking to deepen those roots closer to home, he later requested a transfer to Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota, located an hour and a half drive from his parent's farm in Fosston, Minnesota. This move allowed Quentin to regularly bring his family back to the farm, fostering deep, lasting bonds between his children and their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Following his military retirement at Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota, Quentin packed the family's belongings into storage and set out on a three-month road trip across the western United States and Texas. With a pop-up camper in tow behind their 1970 Ford Galaxie 500, the family searched for the perfect place to call home. After a brief stay in El Paso, Texas, they settled in Lakeside, California, in 1973, purchasing the home where Quentin and Angelines would spend the rest of their lives together.

Driven by a lifelong passion for learning, Quentin earned associate degrees in Criminal Justice and Business Administration from Grossmont Community College. After working as a machinist for Cohu in San Diego, he embarked on a 15-year career as a Court Clerk with the San Diego County Superior Court. He truly enjoyed working with the public to navigate the complexities of the court system, a fulfilling chapter that eventually led to his second retirement.

While working for the courts, Quentin and Angelines launched a weekend side business importing and selling jewelry and ceramics from Spain. They made several trips to the Spanish cities of Toledo, Córdoba and Talavera to source their merchandise, which was then shipped back through Los Angeles. Following his retirement from the Superior Court, Quentin and Angelines channeled their entrepreneurial spirit into a second venture of importing and selling Spanish-language books. They traveled to Spain to buy directly from publishers, then loaded up their van with books and drove across Texas and the western United States to sell directly to educators at school conferences.

Quentin's interests were as varied as they were enduring. As an avid motorsports fan, he closely followed Formula One and NASCAR races throughout his life, twice attending the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans while stationed in France. While he enjoyed listening to all genres of music, country and western held a special place in his heart. Additionally, he was a dedicated World War II history buff who could recount the details of every major battle.

Starting in 1980, Quentin and Angelines became active members and volunteers with Casa de España in San Diego and the Fort Guijarros Museum Foundation. Many friends fondly remember his fruity signature sangria he crafted for Spanish cultural events and celebrations. Quentin was also a dedicated supporter of several local institutions, including the San Diego Maritime Museum, the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation, the San Diego Museum of Art, and the San Diego Zoo. A faithful Catholic, Quentin was a devoted parishioner of Guardian Angels Catholic Church, where he attended Mass regularly beginning in 1973.

Quentin is survived by his beloved wife, Angelines; his children, Roy, Carlos (Desiree) and Victoria (Nacho); and his cherished grandsons, Stephen, Liam, Luke, Aidan and David, alongside many loving nieces and nephews. Quentin was reunited in death with his parents, Harold and Hilma Olson, his sister Audrey, and his six brothers, Francis, Orville, Earl, Gene, Dale and Floyd. In a proud family tradition, Quentin and all of his brothers answered the call to defend their country, contributing a remarkable, combined 74 years of military service in the United States Armed Forces.

Quentin will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, curiosity and unwavering devotion to his family and friends. His life was one of service, adventure and love and his legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

A memorial mass celebrating the life of Quentin Roy Olson will be held on Friday, November 6, at 11:00 AM at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 9310 Dalehurst Rd, Santee, CA. Following the mass, military honors will be presented, and family and friends are invited to gather for a celebration of life at the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at parkinson.org