Douglas Olsen

Douglas Glen Olsen

Our loving brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Douglas Glen Olsen passed away peacefully on June 1, 2021, at the age of 77, with his beloved wife Clara by his side. Doug was born on September 23, 1943, to parents Glen Aaron and Carol George Olsen in Salt Lake City, UT.

Doug was raised in Magna, UT and graduated from Cypress High School, where he developed his love of learning and excelled in many sports. He became the first of many in his family to go to college, attending Utah State on a swimming scholarship and graduating from Weber State.

In 1967, he married Peggy Rice and they had four daughters and one son. Although this marriage ended, Doug was later married to the love of his life Clara Nelson and was sealed to her in the SLC Temple in 1991. He embraced her four children and loved them as his own. Doug and Clara cherished and took great care of one another, and dedicated their lives to feeding, entertaining, and serving their large family and many friends.

Doug was a lifelong missionary and a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a young man, he was called to the Swiss Austrian German Mission. As a young husband and father in Spokane, WA he was called to the Quorum of the Seventy where he served for many years and eventually became one of the first seven presidents of the Seventy’s Quorum for that area.

Later in life, Doug and Clara served together in many mission callings. In Rexburg, ID they served as ward missionaries and Doug was later called as the Stake Mission President. In Kaysville, UT they served as stake missionaries for the Kaysville 8th Ward. In 2007 their dream of becoming full-time missionaries was realized when they were called to serve in the Italy Rome Mission. Their mission work continued upon their return home at The Deseret Mill in Kaysville, UT, and later in Mesquite, NV.

Doug was a lifelong student and teacher. He had a passion for communication and learned numerous languages including German, Italian, and Spanish. He was also an avid outdoorsman and an expert gardener. Whether he was speaking in Sacrament Meetings, leading a Family Home Evening, teaching early morning Seminary, serving in the mission field, or mentoring co-workers, Doug was known for his wisdom and his ability to share knowledge in a way that inspired others to learn.

Doug proudly served his country as a Medical Technician for the 151st Medical Squadron of the Utah Air National Guard where he retired as a Senior Master Sergeant. His many years of service included numerous deployments, training, and humanitarian missions both domestic and abroad.

As a student, teacher, servant, neighbor, and missionary Doug’s life embodied the verse John 13:35 “By this shall men know, ye are my disciples if ye have love, one to another.”

Douglas is survived by his wife, Clara, his five children, Julie (Dan) Gordon, Amanda (Matthew) Page, Melinda (David) Wilson, Ryan (Chantel) Olsen, Natalie (Casey) Clark, his four stepchildren, Maili (Jim) Murdoch, James (Krista) Stone, John (Julie) Stone, Traci (David) Anderson, his 26 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Sharon, Colleen, Ron, and Brent.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 No. Main St. Kaysville, Utah.  Friends may visit with family Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary.

Funeral services will be live-streamed and may be viewed at www.lindquistmortuary.com by scrolling to the bottom of Douglas’ obituary page.

Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.

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