Robert H. Olsen

Robert H. Olsen, 85, passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024, in Lewistown, Montana, at Valle Vista Rehab & Nursing. A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, August 30, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. at Cloyd Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at the Beaver Creek Cemetery. A reception will be held at the Eagles Club.

Bob was born on July 19th, 1939, in Lewistown, Montana, to Stanley A. and Borghild G. (Hendricksen) Dahlen. He joined his brother, Charles, to complete the family. His father worked as a ranch foreman and his mother was a homemaker. His mother died shortly before his second birthday. Before and after her death, Bob was cared for by Borgie’s good friends including Ruby Olsen and Belle Butcher. He was adopted by O.B.M. (Tex) and Ruby Olsen about a year and a half after his mother died. Soon, his sister, Nancy, was born. He kept in close contact with Stanley and Charlie for the rest of his life.

Bob attended Winifred Schools and graduated from Roy High School in 1958. He attended Northern Montana College in Havre, Montana.

On June 4, 1961, he married Jacquelin A. Wilcox. Harlowton, Montana, was their first home. Bob worked as a ranch hand with Stanley and Jackie was a homemaker. They later moved to Suffolk, Montana, where Bob worked on the Olsen ranch with Tex. In December 1964, they moved to the end of the road on the east fork of Beaver Creek, in the Big Snowy Mountains, south of Lewistown, Montana. Bob went into the farming and ranching business with his mother-in-law, Alice (Berg) Wilcox, his brother-in-law, Ron Wilcox, and Alice’s brother, Russell Berg. They raised cattle, sheep, grain, and hay. They also ran their own sawmill, harvesting timber from the ranch.

Bob and Jackie were married for 59 years and were blessed with four children: Kristin, Todd, Connie, and Gretchen.

He enjoyed snowmobiling, playing cards, and board games. He loved his ranching life and his family. He was a good friend and a good neighbor; always looking to help so the next generation of ranchers could succeed.

Bob served on the Northwest Farm Credit Services Local Advisory Committee for fifteen years. He was the Fire Chief for the Beaver Creek/Cottonwood Creek Fire District from 2000 to 2005. From 1990 to 1996, he was a director for the Fergus County Livestock Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two infant grandsons, and his brother-in-law, Ron Wilcox.

He is survived by brother Charlie Dahlen (Sue), sister Nancy Doughten (Dick); sister-in-law Nancy Wilcox, sister-in-law Cheryl Pauli (Joe); daughter Kristin Olsen, son Todd Olsen (Connie), daughter Connie Olsen, daughter Gretchen Collinson; grandchildren Jodi Cundiff (Travis), Jeremy Olsen (Jessi), Bella Wengappuly, Thalia Wengappuly, Marissa Chow, Huston Collinson and Jasper Collinson; great-grandchildren Jerren Jensen, Adysen and Ben Cundiff and Lucas, Rilee and Jade Olsen; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Beaver Creek Cemetery Association (in care of Kristin Olsen, Secretary/Treasurer, 708 West Barnes Street, Lewistown, Montana, 59457-3328), Beaver Creek Fire Hall (in care of Audrey Clark, Secretary/Treasurer, 10562 Beaver Creek Road, Moore, Montana, 59464-9427) or the charity of their choice and may be left with Cloyd Funeral Home or mailed.

Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.