Kenneth Olsen

Saturday, January 9, 2021 11:05 pm

Kenneth Adrian Olsen (Ken) was born Oct. 23, 1936 and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., until the family moved to Glen Cove, Long Island N.Y., where he graduated in 1954. He then attended NYU at Farmingdale, Long Island NY, where he majored in Aircraft Operations, which enabled him to enter the United States Navy in 1956, as a Naval Aviation Cadet. After becoming commissioned an ensign and earning his Naval Aviator Wings, he met and fell in love with Marilyn Grafslund from Minneapolis, Minn.

They traveled extensively for 22 years, as Ken served in the USN, flying A4 Skyhawk aircraft from a variety of aircraft carriers. He served 3 tours during the VietNam Conflict, completing over 100 missions.After retirement from the Navy he served as a safety and maintenance manager for a number of transportation companies. He traveled extensively within the United States for Pacific Intermountain Express, Liquid Air, and Viking Freight. He also traveled throughout Asia for American President Lines. Ken maintained that each position was a different challenge, and better than the last.

During this time, Ken and Marilyn invested in properties and built a house on “The Ridge” overlooking the beautiful Mendocino Coast. After being fully retired, Ken and Marilyn continued their travels through Asia and Europe, until Marilyn fell ill and passed away in 2014.

In 2015, Ken met Merle Jane Quanrude Belz. They fell in love and were married on Dec. 2, 2016. They enjoyed each others’ company during Ken’s golden years, living between San Francisco Calif., and Maple Grove Minn. Together, they enjoyed time at “The Ridge” in California and enjoyed a Viking Cruise trip to Europe. They enjoyed boating on Cedar Island Lake, and spent special time with friends and family. Ken often spoke fondly of his time in Norway with his cousins.

Ken eventually developed Leukemia and passed peacefully in his home in Maple Grove with family on Nov. 21, 2020.

Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn; his parents, Oscar and Grace (Klein) Olsen; one brother, Warren Olsen, his nephew, Peter Olsen; and a step-grandson, Drake Moody. Ken is survived by his wife, Merle Jane, and her children, Laurie (Belz) Moody and Christopher Belz, and 3 step-grandchildren, Johnathan Moody, Abigail Moody, and June Belz. Ken is also survived by his niece, Maria Boscarino. And a special mention to Ken’s wonderful long time friends, Bob and Edwinna Sackariason.

Ken’s ashes will be laid to rest next to his late wife, Marilyn and her parents at Morningside Memorial Gardens in Coon Rapids Minn., and with his parents in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, N.Y. Final arrangements are by the Neptune Society, including a memorial service with military honors at Morningside Memorial Gardens in Coon Rapids, Minn., at a later date due to Covid-19. He was a member of the Christ Lutheran Church in San Francisco, Calif.