Ray Leon Olsen II

September 19, 1942 - May 6, 2025

Ray Leon Olsen II passed away on May 6th, 2025 at his home in Winnemucca. He was 82 years old.
Ray was born on September 19, 1942, in Salt Lake City, UT, during the dark days of World War II.
As the first of four children his mother and father relied on him to help raise his younger brothers and sister. Living in Layton, UT he learned to ride horses and “cowboy” when he was just 7 years old.
Then as a teenager in Salt Lake City he took flying lessons, earning a pilot’s license at 17.
After graduating from Highland High in Salt Lake City, he followed his father and grandfather into the US Navy serving first as a corpsman in San Diego and later as a quartermaster aboard the USS Ashtabula.
Returning home to Salt Lake City in 1964, he met and married his first wife, Carol Ann Morck.
Working at AllSteel Office Supply, Grand Central, and Kmart he moved from a sales rep doing cold calls to positions in management, eventually becoming a store manager.
Leaving Kmart in 1988, he continued to gain experience working for companies as diverse as ARCO and Super Pawn.
It was in the pawn shop that he finally found his avocation in jewelry and clock repair. He spent over two years studying through GIA, while working, to become a gemologist.
Moving to Winnemucca in 1998, he joined the Humboldt County Planning Commission, serving with honor until 2015.
Joining his son Christopher, and wife Carol, he achieved his lifelong dream of owning his own company when they opened Olsen’s Corner Drug Store in 2004.
Ray continued to work long after many of his peers retired.
After Carol died, he remarried twice to Betty Koska and finally to Betty Allen.
One of the greatest joys of his life was cruising with Betty Allen, going to Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska, and through the Panama Canal, as well as spending quality time with the Brooks’ clan.
Ray was preceded by his wives Carol, Betty Koska and Betty Allen. Ray is survived by his son Christopher (Sandy) Olsen and stepdaughter Pamela (Patrick) Brooks, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held later this summer. A proud member of the Winnemucca Lodge #19 of Free and Accepted Masons, he would want any remembrance, in lieu of flowers, to be a donation to the Shriners Children’s Hospitals.