Utah businessman Lester "Les" Gustave Olson, 81, who in 1956 started Les Olson Co., a family-owned business, died Nov. 21, 1995, at University Hospital of congestive heart failure.
Mr. Olson, whose firm was one of the first companies to sell copying and other specialized office equipment in Utah, was active in the business until about two weeks ago. The company has been in operation 40 years.Mr. Olson got his first job at ZCMI as a "cash boy" or errand boy at age 14, when he had to drop out of school to help support the family after his father died. He worked his regular job during the day at ZCMI and in the evenings operated a mimeograph for some of the firm's accounts.
He was manager of the specialized office equipment department when he left ZCMI to begin his own business. In 1978 he and his wife, Reva, who he married in 1933, established another firm, L & R Investment. Three years ago Mr. Olson established Revco Leasing in memory of his wife, who died in 1989.
"One of Dad's great joys was working with his six sons and five daughters and numerous grandchildren on a daily basis in the business. He was also very proud of the many other devoted employees of the business," said a son, L. Ray Olson, oldest son and president of the company.
Mr. Olson was an active high priest in the East Mill Creek 9th Ward, East Mill Creek Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a strong supporter of the missionary program.
Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday in the ward chapel, 3750 Hillside Lane (2500 East). Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 Highland Drive, and from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.