Ray H. Olafson

Ray H. Olafson

A funeral mass for Ray H. Olafson, 64, of Lusk was held Thursday, Apr. 24, 1986 at St Leo's Catholic Church with Msgr. F. J. Kimmett officiating.

Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery. A rosary was held on Wednesday Apr. 23 at Peet Mortuary.

Olafson died Monday, Apr. 21, 1986, at the VA Hospital in Denver, CO. He was born Aug. 28, 1921 at Ideal, S.D., the son of William and Nellie Olafson. The family later moved to Walthill, NE where he attended and graduated from school.

It was there he met and married Irene Fox in 1941. The couple had three children, Carol Rae, Robert Gene and Pamela Ann.

In 1942, Ray entered the Army Air Corps during WW II and served in the ground forces until 1944 when he trained as a tail gunner. After the end of the war, the family moved to Lusk in 1947.

For several years, he worked in building construction. Olafson took the Civil Service Examination in 1949 and was employed in the Lusk Post Office until he retired in 1979 after 27 years in the postal department and three years in the service. He served under Postmasters A. B. Mills and Ada Vogel. When John Thon retired, Ray was named assistant to the postmaster.

Olafson was baptized into the Catholic Church in1966. He served as Exalted Ruler of the Lusk B.P.O.E. Lodge twice and held numerous offices, and was an active member for many years. His retirement years were spent hunting and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Carol Rae in 1966; two sisters, Mildred Ryken and Gladys Kuhn; and a brother Ralph Olafson.

Survivors include his wife, Irene of Lusk; a son Robert Olafson of Sheridan, WY; a daughter Pamela Corkill of Casper; a brother Willard Olafson of Lyon's, NE; two sisters, Blanche Hohenthaner of Providence, RI and Hazel Cooper of Walthill, NE; four grandchildren; plus other relatives and friends.

Memorials to the family will be appreciated.

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