On July 18th, 2022, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer and while surrounded by his family at his home in Port Orchard, WA, Ray Olson peacefully left this life for his eternal life with God Our Father in Heaven.
Born in International Falls, MN, Ray was a graduate of Falls High School and the University of MN where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Ray worked in power generation for four decades in various places around the United States, beginning with gas turbine technology for Chugach Electric in his beloved Alaska. In 1992 he moved his family to North Carolina for a new opportunity with EPRI and later was employed by Duke Power. In 2009, Ray was excited to pivot his career into the renewable energy field with Iberdrola, later referred to as Avangrid. As a Senior Project Manager for Avangrid, he very much enjoyed overseeing the construction of numerous wind farms across the US. Ray was well known for his hard work and tenacity to not only find ways to resolve logistics, but get the job done, no matter the challenges he faced along the way. He cherished the friendships he built along the way and was proud of the work he did.
Ray loved football, reading, IPAs and spending time with his family, especially his seven grandchildren! He was a loving father who was devoted to his wife and four children. His family was always his priority, and he was deeply loved.
An avid hunter when he lived in Alaska, Ray filled the family’s freezer with moose each year. During his time in Alaska, he rarely missed an opportunity to explore the outdoors, often taking the whole family to remote locations during the summer. The midnight sun was magical with his kids running along the bank while salmon jumped out of the water. He fished the Talkeetna River and Copper River, each with its unique challenges. His most visited river was the Kenai River where he enjoyed years of adventures with friends there. Ray returned to fish the Kenai River again, just a few years ago. Chartered trips from Homer, AK to fish halibut topped his list of beautiful places. He would plan weeks for fly-in float trips to uninhabited islands, navigating for miles before the scheduled pick-up miles away, days later, on the other side. He took visitors and family on river raft adventures over rapids. He shared fun memories of close calls for survival.
Once in the states, he fished in the Atlantic Ocean, the Great Lakes and the Pacific, including many rivers in between, but none quite measured up to his days in Alaska. It is no surprise that Ray requested his ashes be spread over water.
Ray is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Cindy; his children, Amy (Greg) Calder, Jesse (Casey) Olson, Lori (Jim) Martin, and Kristy Olson; his brothers, Ted (Peg) Olson, Chuck (Diane) Olson; sisters, Terri Davis and Pat (Blake) Hardina; his wonderful grandchildren, Lillie, Madison, Brody, Cooper, Ellyana, Aleeya, and Joseph; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nyland and Anne Olson.
Please share your funny story or any memory you have of spending time with Ray. We would love to hear from his old high school friends, co-workers, old fishing buddies, family members, and friends. Feel free to share some photos. These memories will be cherished by his family and read by his grandchildren in the years to come, helping them understand more about their Grandfather whom they will dearly miss.
Please revisit this website later in August for details regarding a Celebration of Ray’s life.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Ray’s honor, please donate to https://www.psoriasis.org/donate/
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