Rhea Smith Olsen

Rhea K. Olsen (1922 - 2009)

Obituary

COLLEGE WARD - Rhea Kerr Olsen, 87 passed away peacefully early Sunday morning, May 3, 2009, in Logan, Utah. She was born in Wellsville, Utah, on Jan. 1, 1922, to John L. Kerr and Hazel Smith Kerr and lived there until she married. She attended South Cache High School in Hyrum. Rhea was known for her warm home, her tireless effort and her endless love for her family and her faith.

After growing up in the southwest foothills of Wellsville, Utah, she married John Chester Olsen in 1939 in the Logan LDS Temple. She then lived in the College Ward area of the Cache Valley for over 65 years where, alongside her devoted husband, she raised four children. Rhea loved to work, mostly for the sheer joy that came from doing. She was the consummate supporter for her husband, children, grandchildren and friends as well as her community and her faith. She kept a traditional farm home that was filled with hard work, clean linens, life lessons and wonderful smells of home cooking (particularly those of her delectable rolls). A true matriarch, she loved us, she taught us, she cared for us and she was a great example for all in faith, love, hard work, learning and charity. She planted and cared for a garden every year of her adult life because she loved to work in the earth and provide fresh vegetables and fruits to family and friends.

Rhea honored her heritage. She was a dedicated member of the LDS Church all her life and her church callings filled her life with meaning. She especially enjoyed her years serving in the Primary presidency and teaching. She taught hundreds of children in primary over many years. She also enjoyed attending the temple and doing name extraction genealogy work with her husband. Rhea loved music. She encouraged her children and grandchildren to learn musical instruments and sing - many are becoming or have become accomplished musicians because of her enthusiasm. Rhea was particularly fond of the violin, and was always an eager audience.

Rhea is survived by three daughters, Patricia (Donald) Nyman of College Ward; Mary Jo (Michael) Courtney of Layton; Kathleen Yazzie of West Bountiful; daughter-in-law Linda Jessop Olsen of Bountiful; two sisters, Bertha Price of Kaysville and Renae McBride of Wellsville; and one brother, John (Junior) (Carol) Kerr of Wellsville. She has 10 grandchildren: Rick (Marilyn), Michael (Caroline), Gordon (Libby), Wade (Tamara), Sandra (Steven) Kemp, Kirt (Sonja) Nyman, Libby (Richard) Israelsen, Jennifer (Russell) Keith, Jason Yazzie and Jordan Yazzie. She has 26 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; her son, Richard; her parents; and her brother and sister, Lewis Kerr and Marion Casterline.

The family would like to acknowledge the love and care Rhea received from family and friends, especially her daughter Pat and husband Donald over many years. The family would also like to thank the staff at Legacy House, Access Home Care and Logan Nursing & Rehab Center for the loving care Rhea received.

A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center, Logan, and from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday at the LDS Spring Creek Ward house, 2394 W. 2200 South, Young Ward. The funeral services will be held at noon Friday at the same church. Interment will follow at the Logan City Cemetery.

Condolences and memories can be left online at www.allenmortuaries.net. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations/consideration be made to the Richard J. Olsen Scholarship Fund at Utah State University.