Eugene Severt Olson1929 ~ 2016Eugene (Gene) Severt Olson, 87, passed away at home on December 3, 2016. Gene was born on January 12, 1929, in Brainerd, Minnesota, to Martin and Dorothy (Wright) Olson. He married Dorothy Reynolds in San Francisco while stationed at the Presidio on April 10, 1954.He attended school in Crosby-Ironton, Minnesota. Upon graduating high school, Gene joined the Army in 1946. After basic training, Gene was assigned to the Judge Advocate General Section in Japan. When the Korean conflict began, Gene volunteered to serve in a JAG Section in Korea…little did he know that he would be placed in a rifle platoon on the Chosin Reservoir where he received the Purple Heart. Gene earned the enlisted rank of Sergeant and made the Army his career. He chose to continue his Army career as Officer attending OCS in Ft. Sill, OK (Why is there grass on your brass, sergeant?). Later as a Junior Captain, Gene went on to Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, KS.Gene and family were based throughout the US, as well as three years in Germany and five years in Thailand. Prior to his first tour in Thailand, Gene was required to learn Thai. The family moved to Arlington, VA while Gene attended the Foreign Language Institute in Washington DC. (Sawadee Dad!). Although Gene had developed a staggeringly impressive vocabulary, from literally reading the dictionary in downtime while in Korea, his foreign language aptitude was not ranked high. He worked hard and became fluent in spoken and written Thai and all of his family can attest, he took great pride in sharing his Thai language skills, for the rest of his life, with anyone who he thought he could confuse! Gene also spent two tours in Vietnam. After 30 years of military service Gene retired and settled for many years in Sioux Falls, SD where he was last stationed.Although retired from the Army, Gene definitely wasn't ready to retire. He had always had a gift for all things mechanical and kept all of the family vehicles running in top form over the years. He decided it would be "fun" to learn something new and chose to attend a two year vocational program in Diesel Mechanics. He completed that and still wasn't ready to retire. He took a position as a math (another passion of Gene's) teacher at the SD State Penitentiary. Gene loved teaching math, but he was soon offered and promoted to the business manager position for the penitentiary. Finally, after 10 years of that second career, Gene was ready to truly retire.Gene and Dorothy built their dream lake home in Lake Caroline, VA. They spent many wonderful years at the lake where all of the grandkids came for extended stays during the summer and spent countless hours swimming, waterskiing, fishing, catching turtles, and going to Kings Dominion Amusement Park. Gene became a kid again, and rode on all the harrowing rides with the grandkids that their parents weren't able to handle (Wow, the "Berzerka")!In 2005 Gene and Dorothy moved to Boise to be closer to family. They loved watching their grandkids' school functions; choir shows, drama shows, soccer games, basketball games, football games, and baseball games. Gene also loved rafting the rivers of Idaho with family. When he tired of the South Fork of the Boise (too cold!) he became an observer/shuttle driver for the family. Gene loved traveling with his wife, Dorothy around Idaho, around the US and around the world on their many cruises. He enjoyed listening to Johnny Cash and he loved watching his Minnesota Vikings with a close second his wife's favorite team, the 49ers and he became a die-hard BSU football fan. Of all his interests and passions, the two most important things in Gene's life were his family and his country. He was a great man of few words and the most honorable and faithful man a wife could have. He will be so dearly missed by his wife, Dorothy, his sons, daughter, daughter-in-law, and grandkids.Preceding Gene in death were his parents; four brothers, Wright, Richard, Arthur and Norman; and one sister, Joan Yancer.Gene is survived by his wife, Dorothy; children, Alan and daughter-in-law Andrea Olson, Liza Wiese, and Kevin Olson; grandchildren, Kirsten, Cameron, Brandon and Alex Olson and Josh and Alexandra Wiese; great-grandchild, Cami; his brother, Roald; two sisters, Miriam McClellan and Laurel Atneosen. A private family memorial will be held at a later date.