Merle Barrus Olsen
1913 ~ 2007
LOGAN, UTAH Merle Barrus Olsen, 94, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2007 surrounded by family at the Logan Regional Hospital.
She was born August 30, 1913 in Fairview, Wyoming, to Orrin Orlando and Mary Elizabeth Clark Barrus. She married Lynn Jay Olsen on October 12, 1938 in the Logan LDS temple. He passed away April 17, 1981. They were the parents of five daughters and four sons. She spent her early years in Star Valley Wyoming, but later moved to Logan where her parents spent many years as officiators in the Logan LDS temple. She graduated from Logan High school and went on to graduate from Utah State University with a teaching degree in 1936. She taught for a time in Garden City, Utah and in the Logan School District. Her favorite role was teaching her children and others values and skills that would help them succeed in life. Merle was a devoted companion and mother, always caring for her family. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in various callings. Lynn and Merle served two missions together and later Merle served as an officiator in the Logan LDS temple for 14 years. American Mother's of Utah surprised her in 1991 by naming her Honorary Mother of the Year for the state of Utah.
Her husband, her parents, her eight siblings, one son-in-law, and one grandchild preceded her in death. She is survived by her children: Colleen (LaVel) Davis of Logan, Utah; Merlin (Susan) Olsen of Park City, Utah; Clark (Fawn) Olsen of Weiser, Idaho; Lorraine Olsen Elzinga of American Fork, Utah; Gwen (Roy) Saltern of Logan, Utah; Phil (Connie) Olsen of Bozeman, Montana; Winona (Patrick) Barrett of San Bruno, California; Ramona (Ralph) Whitaker of South Jordan, Utah; Orrin (Sandy) Olsen of Alpine, Utah; along with 42 grandchildren, 74 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, September 14 at the Logan 11th Ward chapel - 195 South 100 East, Logan, Utah. A viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, September 13 at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center Street, in Logan and at 10:30- 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the church prior to the services. Interment will be in the Logan Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lynn J. and Merle B. Olsen Scholarship Fund at Utah State University, Development Office, 1420 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-1420. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net