Obituary of Vicki Loyola Olsen

Vicki Loyola Olsen Vicki, 75, died peacefully October 23rd at Roo-Lan Heath Care Center in Lacey, WA. Vicki was a resident of Shelton, WA for 49 years. She was an active, compassionate person always with a smile on her face and a willingness to help others. Vicki was born in Ontario, Oregon to Vic and Lucille (Musgrove) Bernard and was the oldest of three children. She was a 5th generation Nevadan and grew up in the mining community of Weed Heights overlooking an open pit copper mine, the small town of Yerington and Mason Valley, Nevada. Vicki liked to tell stories of growing up in Nevada. She lived on her Aunt and Uncle’s ranch for a while and liked visiting the cook-house. In town she would visit her great grandmother Bernard. She also liked visiting the County Assessor, her Grandfather. Camping along the Walker River was a treat for her because breakfast was a favorite meal, pan-fried trout and eggs. She also liked to stay at relatives’ cabins on Twin Lakes near Bridgeport, CA. She remembered sleeping outside and having snow fall on her face during the night. In season, pine nuts were a special treat she and her family harvested. Vicki could read before she started school. She always carried a new or favorite novel with her. She was a bright student and graduated salutatorian from high school. Vicki was a National Merit scholar and was offered a full ride college scholarship. Instead, Vicki chose to study medical administration at Zweeghman School for Medical Secretaries in San Francisco. After graduation Vicki married Jerry Ford. They moved to West Virginia where Vicki worked for the hospital’s head surgeon. They then moved to Michigan where Vicki worked for Campfire Girls. In Michigan they added a baby girl to their family. Soon after, they moved to Shelton. Vicki discovered a cousin, Marguerite, lived on Little Skookum Inlet. Vicki worked evenings for Mason General and then was offered a job helping to startup a new practice in town. She worked as the office manager in the practice until her husband died. During the following year Vicki and her daughter moved to Weed Heights and then back to Shelton. Vicki met and married Stan Olsen, “her favorite husband” and true love for 44 years. A few years later, they added a baby boy to their family. As her children grew up Vicki volunteered at Mt. View Elementary in the classrooms of her children and for the parent teacher organization. She was an assistant leader of her daughter’s Campfire group. She also taught Sunday school at St Edwards Catholic Church and helped run their summer school program. She taught the Marian Award for her daughter’s group of girls. Vicki also volunteered to help seniors submit their “shoe box full of medical bills” to insurance companies for payment. For about a year Vicki attended Evergreen State College and took courses in English and Psychology. A short time later Vicki started back to work. She worked for the State and then decided to try something close to home. She worked as the office manager in an insurance office in Shelton for several years. Vicki became a licensed insurance agent and specialized in medical and life insurance. During this time Vicki and Stan volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America. They were den and Webelos leaders for their son’s group. Later they followed their son into Boy Scouts and helped him and several other boys achieve Eagle Scout. Vicki stayed with the Scouts afterward and helped other boys negotiate the paper work needed for Eagle Scout. Vicki started the last chapter of her career as the practice manager for a large walk-in urgent-care clinic in West Olympia. She absolutely loved this job. She used all her talents, training and experience to manage the clinic and meet goals she set for the clinic and herself. Vicki also took time to plan and take a trip to England, Paris and Italy. In retirement Vicki volunteered in her daughter’s classroom. Her daughter was a teacher at Mt. View Elementary. Vicki and Stan began traveling by car to visit family and friends in Nevada and Idaho. They took a cruise to Alaska and plane trips to Las Vegas and Texas. Their next big trip to Europe was called off because of illness. Vicki was preceded in death by her parents, Vic and Lucille. She is survived by her husband Stan, daughter Heather Malpass, son Stanley and grandchildren Riley and Logan Maddox all of Shelton. She is also survived by brothers Larry (Tammy) of Reno and Tim (Sherry) of Boise, aunts Elaine of Arizona and Audrey (Bob) Ferrari of Reno and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A graveside service will be held Nov. 2nd at 2pm at Shelton Memorial Park with an informal reception to follow at Freedom Baptist Church across the street from the cemetery. Arrangements by McComb & Wagner of Shelton. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Providence St. Peter Foundation (www.providence.org/giving), the Salvation Army, American Lung Assoc. (Lung.org/Give), or your favorite charity.