Dan R. Olson

December 23, 1929 - August 13, 2016

Dan R. Olson, age 86, passed away in Bellingham on August 13, 2016. He was born December 23, 1929 in Bellingham to Ralph O. and Louise (Moore) Olson. Dan graduated from the Campus School at Western Washington University and Bellingham High School. He married Harriet “Bunny” Follis on June 18, 1955 in Seattle. Dan earned his B.A. and Law Degree from the University of Washington. He is a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, Phi Delta Phi Law Fraternity, and rowed for the Husky crew team. Dan served as a Law Clerk for his father, Supreme Court Justice Ralph O. Olson, in Olympia, WA. He also served as the Assistant Whatcom County Prosecutor. Dan and his brother Chuck practiced Law in Bellingham as Olson and Olson. He also practiced law in Friday Harbor. He served as the President of the Whatcom County Bar Association. As an avid sailor, Dan served as Commodore of the Bellingham Yacht Club and owned three different sailboats, most recently the Dandy. He was a longtime member of St. James Presbyterian and the Bellingham Bay Rotary Club. Dan had a fun-loving spirit and a great sense of humor. Throughout the years he enjoyed snow skiing and swimming. He was preceded in death by his sister Phyllis Olson Needy. Dan is survived by his loving wife, Harriet “Bunny”, brother Chuck (Marian) Olson, nieces Cindy (Whit) Smith, Gail (Ralph) Jones, Louise (Mark) Lennartz, Sarah (Mark) Davis, Susan (Dutch) Nordinger, nephews Dave (Tina) Needy, and Ralph (Krista) Olson. A Celebration of Dan’s life will be held at the Squalicum Boathouse, 2600 N. Harbor Loop at 1 PM on Tuesday, August 23rd. Donations for the youth sailing program at the Bellingham Yacht Club may be made to the Bellingham Sailing Foundation, 2626 S. Harbor Loop, Bellingham, WA 98225.