Our beloved son, brother, friend and teacher, John Patrick Olson, passed away August 23, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. John was born December 5, 1956 to John and Katie Olson. He was raised on the family farm and ranch in Hysham along with his siblings, David (Rosemary) Olson, Debby (Jim) Boyle, Diane (Jerry) Peach, and Susan (Joe) Rhodes. John had a deep love for the outdoors, hunting, and fishing that stayed with him his entire life.
He attended grade school and high school at Hysham Public Schools, graduating in 1975. Music, basketball, and farm life kept him busy. After high school John attended MSU Bozeman, graduating with a B.S. in Microbiology in 1980. He worked as county sanitarian in Madison and Gallatin counties for several years until he decided it was time for a change. He returned to MSU and earned a secondary teaching certificate. Billings West High School hired him that fall to teach chemistry and a new adventure began.
Weeks before he started his first day of class, John had his first of three heart surgeries at age 29 and was diagnosed with Marfan’s syndrome, a rare genetic disease of the connective tissues. For the next 28 years, John taught chemistry at West High. He enjoyed his work and students and developed many lasting and loving friendships. His fellow teachers become his second family and were some of his best friends. “Oly” retired in 2014 to enjoy his later years.
John loved fishing, hunting, music, photography, his dogs, and riding his four-wheeler. But most of all, he loved his family, wonderful friends, and God. He mastered the art of fly fishing, guiding on the Big Horn River during the summer months. John shared his passion for fishing with friends and family, angling most rivers and streams in Montana. Watching his graceful and precise casts was truly magical. John had a beautiful baritone voice and a deep love for music of all kinds. He sang in the Hysham school choir, MSU Madrigal Choir, Billings Symphony Choir, and for many weddings over the years. He had an amazing amount of great friends from his childhood years, college days, teaching profession, fishing buddies, and of course, the ORF’s (his old retired friends).
As was his father, John was a good listener, which made him a great conversationalist. He was a kind and strong man, a faithful friend, a devoted companion to his mother, and one of the best brothers in the world. He was a great man who suffered for years quietly and patiently. He is now free from his human body and enjoying his heavenly one.
John is survived by his mother, four siblings and their spouses, eleven nieces and nephews, eighteen grandnieces and grandnephews, and his beloved Brittney spaniel, Sonny. He is preceded in death by his father, John.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses, doctors, CNA’s and other staff on 3rd Tower at St. Vincent Hospital for their kindness and the special care they provided John during his stay.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph’s PCCW, c/o Rosemary Olson, PO Box 42, Hysham, MT 59038; the Marfan’s Foundation, 22 Manhasset Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050; Trout Unlimited, PO Box 7400, Woolly Bugger, West Virginia 25438, or the charity of your choice.
Rosary service will recited Thursday, August 30, at 6:30 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hysham. Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, August 31 at 1:00 PM at the Church. Rite of Committal will follow the mass at the Memorial Vale Cemetery in Hysham. Reception will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Forsyth is in charge of the arrangements, to leave condolences for the family, please visit our website at www.stevensonsandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Rosary Service
6:30 P.M.
Thursday August 30, 2018
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Hysham, Montana 59038
Mass of Christian Burial
1:00 P.M
Friday August 31, 2018
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Hysham, Montana 59038
Rite of Committal
Following the Funeral Service
Friday August 31, 2018
Hysham Cemetery
Hysham, Montana 59038
Service Schedule
Rosary Service
6:30 P.M.
Thursday August 30, 2018
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Hysham, Montana 59038
Mass of Christian Burial
1:00 P.M
Friday August 31, 2018
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Hysham, Montana 59038
Rite of Committal
Following the Funeral Service
Friday August 31, 2018
Hysham Cemetery
Hysham, Montana 59038
Linda says
Awesome job everyone on bringing Johnny’s life to life for all of us. Great photo. Can’t help but smile and miss him. Wish I could be there for the rosary and funeral. We’ll be thinking of you next week as we gather in California. Love to you all. Linda
Ann & Gary Orser says
Our deepest sympathy to all of you. Johnny was a true ‘gentle-man’ in the best sense of the word. We shall remember him always.
Max Watson says
Dear Katie and family,
We have nothing but, fun and caring memories of Johnny. Johnny was truly a great man. He was so very easy to talk to. Please know we are praying for you all. We are so sorry for you deep loss.
Love you all,
Max and Nancy
Kim Smarsh says
My deepest sympathy to John’s family.
Ryan says
I took chemistry from Mr. Olson at West High about a decade ago. He was a kind man who really cared about his students. He explained difficult concepts well and always challenged his students to dig deeply into the material; his class prepared me well for later college courses. I am grateful to have known him, and I am sorry to hear of his passing.
Evey LaMont says
I am so very sorry to lose John. He was a fine teacher and kind, kind man. He will be remembered.
Rick & Karen Mouat says
Katy and family, Rick and are so sorry to hear about Johnny’s passing. You are all certainly in our thoughts and prayers for the Lord to comfort and wrap his arms around all of you. We know he will be missed!
Callie says
I was lucky to have taken a chemistry class from Mr. Olson at West High. His class was always challenging and engaging, and he was so knowledgeable about the subject. He will be remembered and missed by his former students!
Chris McDonald says
John was in my dental practice for quite a few years, one of my most memorable patients. Always lookrd forward to seeing him. Met him on the Bighorn and number of times also. Such a kind and engaging man, he was one of the good guys.
Joan Kipp says
So sorry to hear of John’s passing. My heartfelt condolences to his family.
Williams Family says
Condolences to the Olson family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your whole family. Psalms 147:3 says God, “heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds.” May God bring you comfort and peace.
Michael Bourdet says
I knew Johnny was unique when, as young boys, he showed me his protruding chest bone. Whatever physical abnormalities he had only accentuated what he shared with everyone he met – good, honest, humble companionship and a love for God’s creation. Like the verse says, there’s “nothing you can say that can’t be sung” so sing along with my version of “Home on the Range” dedicated to John:
Oh give me a home
where I’m free to roam
and the fish bite all the day long
where the sky never ends
and there’s plenty of friends
it’s here where my heart sings this song
Home, home is the place
Blessed with family and heavenly grace
I can’t help but sing, thanks for everything
Our memories can never be erased
Thank you Johnny~
jennifer Strother says
Johnny will always bring to mind a light-hearted, humble, wise presence. He made everyone near him feel important and like others have said, he listened well. He demonstrated a persistent optomism despite going through so many physical trails. I was praying for Johhny Thursday morning at about 6 a.m. and got the sense that God would take care of him and guide him peacefully to that better place where John and James would be there to welcome him. We were all so lucky to have him touch our lives and have his memory to continue to inspire us.
Denice Hedges says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. May God wrap his arms around you to help ease the pain and loss your family is experiencing. Bill and Denice Hedges
Harold HERT family says
God bless you sorry for your loss
Dee Hert says
Dear Katie,
Your personal kindness has positively reflected among your children, they are all well loved and respected.
So very sorry to hear of Johnny’s passing, he is now pain free and happy.
Wish Darrell and I could attend services to express our sympathy; know that you are loved.
Dee
Margaret Aukshun says
I was fortunate to teach with John during most of my career. He was a gentleman, scholar, and dedicated teacher. As a math teacher to many of his Chemistry students, I know his students thought highly of him. When I needed some science equipment in my classroom, he was always willing to accommodate my requests. The last time I saw him, he was celebrating some retirements at West High. He talked about using his retirement to fish and guide. He was a happy man, and that is how I will remember him. So sorry his heart gave out; my heart grieves with his family.
Evelyn Seibel says
So sorry for your loss. No matter what was happening, always had a good time with Johnny–great memories of singing with him, laughing with him, I know he saved my life at least twice…. God Bless. Love to you all
Wish I could be there to celebrate his life with you all. Evelyn
Ron Miller says
Katie and family,
I am so sorry to hear about Johnny. We had so many great memories growing up in Hysham and I will cherish them all. I am thinking of all of you during this difficult time. God Bless all of you!
Ron
Dylan says
I was lucky enough to have the good Mr. Olson for Chemistry class. His classes prepared me well for college and for that, I will be forever thankful. I was even luckier to get to know Mr. Olson by helping him shovel snow and mow his lawn. Although I didn’t keep in contact with him after graduation, I always would think about the good Mr. Olson when a college chemistry problem looked familiar or when I thought about our conversations while shoveling snow. Thank you Mr. Olson for everything you taught me and many others.