Notes
Note for: Belle Nason, 8 AUG 1905 - 16 NOV 1987 Index
Burial:
Date: 18 NOV 1987
Place: Larkin Sunset Gardens, Sandy Utah
Individual note:
Funeral Notice
SSDI
BELLE SOMMER 01 Aug 1905 16 Nov 1987 84106 (Salt Lake City, Salt Lake,
UT) (none specified) Utah
Notes
Note for: Joseph William Sommer, 10 MAR 1900 - 13 NOV 1969 Index
SSDI
JOSEPH SOMMER 10 Mar 1900 Nov 1969 84106 (Salt Lake City, Salt Lake,
UT) (none specified) Utah
Notes
Note for: Richard Dean Olson, 13 JUN 1919 - 3 NOV 1995 Index
Burial:
Date: 7 NOV 1995
Place: Lakewood Memorial Park, Hughson CA
Individual note:
Photos
Headstone photos
Obituary
Known as "Poppy" to family
Dick was my father in law for over 20 years. I have a lot of photos, and
some family history on his family along with some of his ancestors old
photos. I didn't meet him until 1969, after he was married to Helen.
Grew up in Idaho and told stories of how he watched them build the Pirren
Bridge in Twin Falls, and how he and his friends would walk across it
before it was completed.
Dick was a short, rolley polley man. Loved to joke around and pull pranks.
He owned and operated Aristocrat Interiors in Modesto until he retired in
the late 1980's. He and his wife Helen were very much involved in working
the business.
He was very active in the community and the clubs he belonged to - I
remember; Shriners, Lions, Elks and he was on the reserve police dept. He
and Helen loved to entertain in their home. He really enjoyed working
around the house and building things. Carpentry was his hobby, not sure
if he ever did it as a profession or not. No matter what he was doing he
would bump his head and we often teased him about it. He said it was
because he was bald and didn't have "feelers" (meaning hair).
For several years their home was a polling place during elections.
If Dick could have had his way he would have sold the house and travel
the US in their motor homes, I remember them owning at least 3 or 4. They
spent every spring on the road due to Helens hay fever. I would say that
after they retired they probably traveled at least 6 months of the year.
He was in the Navy during WWII and often told old war stories. I believe
the ship he was on was the Pueblo (?) and told of bombing of Pearl
Harbor. Sometime in the 80's I remember he started going to the reunions
of his old Navy buddies. He loved it.
Loved their poodle, 'Chrissy'.
When Gary and Torre's mom died in 1979 we were living in Idaho. When we
got to Modesto it was so nice to see Dick hug his son and tell him that
he was sorry and that he really did love her at one time. The 'boys' did
not show much emotion at all, even though we knew they loved their dad.
Infact Gary rarely called his father anything but 'Poppy' or "t-o-m"
(meaning The Old Man).... The 'boys' often went to their dads and played
dice with him at his bar in the patio. We often went with them on weekend
trips in the motor home.
He was never sick, nor did he ever feel pain. Often Dr's would find
things when he went in for check ups. I remember he had kidney stones and
had no idea, felt no pain.
In 1987 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He flew through the
treatments without any problems and the results were good. He didn't
start having any problems until several years later. At which time he let
the Dr's do what they had to do and it seems like things went down hill
from there.
I last saw Dick when he was in the hospital about Aug of 1995, not to
long before he passed away from a long battle with cancer. I took his two
great grandchildren to visit him. He seemed happy to see me and the kids,
although you could see that he was in a lot of pain. He told me he was
sorry about the divorce but he understood and really thought I was in
there for the long haul It was so hard seeing a man that I had never
seen sick a day in his life lay there so helpless.
As of Nov of 2000, Helen is still living and we talk about once or twice
a year. Her daughter just passed away and I went to the services. We have
talked a few times since then. She doesn't look like she has aged a bit
Services: Tues November 7, 1995
1:30 Franklin and Downs, McHenry Chapel, Modesto CA
Honorary Pallbearers:
Jack Broome
Sal Benenatti
Don Fellows
Marvin Harden
Mario Mendes
George Freitas
Notes
Note for: Joseph William Sommer, 26 JAN 1928 - ABT. 1996 Index
Nothing in SSDI