Peter Olsen

Peter Olsen, Long Time Resident of Keeline, is Dead

Peter Olsen, aged 78 years, 11 months and 13 days, passed away at his rooms in the Keeline hotel at 10 o'clock Saturday night, June 20th, following a period of failing health which has covered many months.

Mr. Olsen was a native of Denmark, born July 7th, 1852. At the age of 18 years he came to America, finally locating in Omaha, Nebr., in 1872.

In 1877 he was united in marriage to Miss Manda Engstrom. To this union were born three children, the eldest, a son, passing away in infancy. Two daughters, Miss Dora Olsen of Keeline, and Mrs. J. M. Stafford of Omaha, Nebr., survive. Both were at the bedside of their father as he expired. The mother died in 1927, 50 years after their marriage.

The Olsens came to Wyoming, locating in Keeline in June, 1909. In October of that year they took up a homestead near that town and lived there continuously until in 1925 when Mr. Olsen entered the mercantile business in Keeline as its first merchant. He was owner of the store and operated it up until the time of his demise, seldom failing to be at the store.

In his community he was highly respected and his friends were many. He was considered one of the most prominent citizens in the western part of the county.

The remains were placed in charge of the Midwest Mortuary and short funeral services under their direction were held at the hotel at 1:00 o'clock Monday afternoon, June 22nd. Harry H. Koontz, a friend of the family, delivered the funeral address. A quartet composed of Roy Elder, Ernest Swanson, C. W. Pfeifer and Lavonne Pfeifer, rendered several selections at the services.

The remains were born to the train by George McGuire, Ed Hampton, Melvin Crawford, Clyde Bowell, Frank Stevens and Chas. Hitshew, and from Keeline were shipped to Omaha where they were interred in the family plot, beside the body of his late wife. Both daughters accompanied the body to its last resting place.

Community Saddened By Death Of Peter Olsen,

In the death of Peter Olsen Saturday evening the community feels it has lost a real friend and neighbor. Mr. Olsen was Keeline's first storekeeper, having been manager of the Spaugh store located in the building now used by the hardware company, which was started in 1909. The Olsen family homesteaded southwest of town and spent many years there, coming back to Keeline some seven years ago, and Mr. Olsen, with the help of his daughter, Miss Dora, has operated a general store here since that time. Mrs. Olsen died several years ago, and Mr. Olsen has never taken any real interest in life since. Although 83 years old at the time of his death, he very seldom missed a day from work.

A short funeral service was held at the hotel Monday afternoon, Harry H. Koontz, a warm friend of the family, delivering the funeral address. The remains were shipped to Omaha that afternoon for burial in the family plot there. The body was accompanied by Mr. Olsen's two daughters, Miss Dora and Mrs. Edith Stafford of Omaha, who has been here helping care for her father for the past several weeks.

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