Roger Olsen

Roger Dean Olsen was born on January 31, 1946, in Bremerton, Washington, to Clifford Edwin Olsen and Zoe (Clift) Olsen. During his childhood, he also lived in Virginia and Hawaii before the family resettled in Bellevue, Washington, after his father retired from the Navy. Roger was especially fond of his high school years in Hawaii, where he learned to surf and play the guitar, the beginning of a lifelong love of playing music. He served as sergeant in the US Army in Vietnam, where he learned about the Baháʼí Faith. While on leave in Hawaii, he declared his belief in Baháʼu'lláh and became a member of the Baháʼí Faith. His deep and unwavering faith carried him through many difficult trials throughout life. He loved to share his faith with others and truly saw himself as a world citizen, spreading love, unity, and his belief in the oneness of humanity.

After returning to Washington State from Vietnam, Roger married Patrice (McHatton) Olsen and became a registered nurse, practicing in Neah Bay, Forks, Anacortes and later Spokane, WA. After the tragic loss of his wife during their time in Anacortes, Roger raised their two children, Muhájir and Lua, as a single parent for five years. Eventually, Roger married again, wedding Geralyn West, and they had two children, Rúhíyyih and Dorey. After obtaining his Masters in Social Work from Eastern Washington University, Roger worked for many years as a mental health and addiction counselor, always wanting to be of service to others. Following the onset of illness and unsuccessful back surgery, he spent his remaining years in a wheelchair with chronic debilitating pain.

Despite no longer being able to work, he continued playing music and serving the Baháʼí community. He played fiddle in the world folk music group, Passport, with friends in the Spokane area, wrote songs, and led numerous sing-alongs with his guitar at his children's schools and faith gatherings. He was admired for the beautiful finger-picking style he played on guitar. Roger and Geralyn later divorced but remained supportive parents. Roger eventually entered full-time care in nursing homes in western WA and finally Billings, MT. In each of the places he lived, he shared music with other residents that elevated the spirit of all who participated. He made it his mission to befriend all staff and loved to talk with them about where they were from and of course their thoughts about God. He was proud of his family's Sami heritage and traveled to Samiland in Northern Finland and Norway on a few occasions, and also endeavored to learn the Sami language.

Roger is loved and remembered for his constant generosity of spirit, infinite capacity for friendships, and emphasis on fellowship and love amongst all people he interacted with. He is preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, Mildred English. He is survived by his sister Rebecca Fielding, his son Muhájir Olsen and his daughter-in-law Marcy Olsen, his daughter Lua Carlson and son-in-law Eric Carlson, his daughter Rúhíyyih Tolton and son-in-law Peter Tolton, his daughter Dorey Olsen, and his grandson Robin Tolton.