Archie Wayne Olsen

Archie Wayne Olsen, age 89, returned home to his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, Aug. 15, in St. Ignatius. Archie was born May 24, 1923, in Burley, Idaho, the eleventh of twelve children to Adolph Lars and Pearl Robbins Olsen. Archie grew up north of St. Ignatius in the Post Creek area, Little Bitterroot country. He later lived in Missoula, where he graduated from Missoula County High School in 1942. After graduation, Archie worked as an electrician in the Seattle shipyards. On January 12, 1943, he married Kathryn Wood, in Missoula. This marriage was later solemnized in the Logan Temple. He and Kathryn raised four children, Susan, Jerry, Linda, and Shirley Anne. They were later divorced. Archie enlisted in the US Army on March 1, 1943. He was assigned to Company H, 303rd  Infantry Regiment Division, 97th Battalion. He first served in the European Theatre under General George Patton, then in Japan in the Pacific Theatre. He received his Honorable Discharged on February 10, 1946. After returning from the service, Archie drove a taxi cab in Missoula. In 1950 he moved his family to St. Ignatius. Archie worked with his brother in the Gambles Store, and later became the sole owner of Gambles Hardware and Clothing Store. Archie met and married Thelma Cox Griffiths on January 31, 1978. Archie actively worked until retiring at the age of 73. Archie was a highly regarded business owner and very active in the community. He was a member of the American Legion Post 106, St. Ignatius Lions Club, St. Ignatius City Council, and Old Town Development Corporation. He served on the St. Ignatius Volunteer Fire Department (1951-1980), Lake County Council on Aging, Salish & Kootenai Housing Board (1963-1992), and Whitefish Credit Union. Archie was instrumental in the development of the Taleman Park, working endless hours installing the sprinkler system after spending a long day in the store. Archie was a ROCK to many people in the community. Archie was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving in the bishopric and various other positions. Dad loved to sing, tell corny jokes, and knew his way around a dance floor. He loved gardening, traveling, woodworking, fishing, and bowling. He was always remodeling or improving something in his home. He loved to play the No Name Board Game with his family and friends. He also enjoyed horse packing into the Bob Marshall Wilderness with his buddies.

Archie is survived by his wife, Thelma; his children and their spouses, Susan Olsen, Jerry (Dawn) Olsen, Linda (Lynn) Hansen, Shirley Anne (Roger) Falck; step-children and spouses, Gloria (Don) Wood, Misha (Mark) Tracy, Sheila (Don) Crego, Claudia (Jack) McCready, Alan (Terry) Griffiths; one brother, Rex Olsen; ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one grandson, 10 brothers and sisters, and many close friends. A funeral service to celebrate Archie’s life will be held Saturday, August 25 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in St. Ignatius. Burial will take place at Pleasantview Cemetery in St. Ignatius with military honors. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan. Visitation will be Friday, Aug. 24 from 4:00-6:00 pm at Grogan Funeral Home, Polson.