Matthew Olson Durango, Colorado Obituary

Matthew Olson

Matthew Scott Olson died on March 13, 2012, at his sister's home in Durango, Colo., from natural causes. He was 48. Matthew was born on February 5, 1964, in Fargo, N.D., to Wallace and Elizabeth Olson of Halstad, Minn. He grew up on the family farm in Halstad and moved with the family to Sturgis, S.D., when he was 13. He was active in the local horse community, competing in horse shows in Minnesota, South Dakota and eastern Montana, starting at the age of 9 and continued until age 19. He won a 'garage full' of trophies for riding and went as far as the State Championships in Minnesota, and on to the National Championships in Oklahoma. His favorite horse, Shi Roh Sue, was named one of the Outstanding Horses of the World in 1983. He attended Southern Oregon State College in Ashland, Ore., and graduated with a BFA in Theatre. He was active in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Actors Workshop and The Pink Church Cabaret in Ashland. He then moved to Seattle, Wash., to pursue his acting career. He was involved in several theater groups there, including the Aha! Theatre and Seattle Rep. In addition to his acting, he spent 5 years bartending at the Seattle Space Needle. In 2000, he moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, and spent the next 12 years in the restaurant industry, moving into training and supervising. When asked if he missed working in theatre, he would respond that he was "on stage every night" with the restaurant staff and clientele. He continued to support the arts and was an advocate for gay rights. He had just moved to Durango, Colo., to be with his sister and family and to start a new chapter of life when he died. He had only been in Durango two months. He had a wonderful sense of humor, wit and style, an exceptional kind and loving spirit, and made lifelong friends wherever he went. Matthew is survived by his parents, Wallace and Elizabeth Olson, of Sturgis, S.D.; brother Terry Olson of Ranchester, Wyo., sister Dana Wilson of Durango, Colo., and nephews Joe Hardie, Alex Hardie and Deni Olson. A family service and celebration of life is planned for Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis, S.D. Interment will be at the family plot at Augustana church near Halstad, Minn., at a later date. A memorial has been created by his dear friends in Seattle. They are establishing a foundation and a clinic to provide medical care for uninsured artists in the Seattle community. The clinic will be named The Matthew Scott Olson Memorial Clinic. For more information, visit the website at MSOMemorialClinic.org, or on Facebook search the MSO Memorial Clinic. Donations may be tax deductible, please consult a tax professional. Checks can be made to: AAIPC, c/o Bryan Cooper, ARNP, NP-C, 1816 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Seattle, WA 98122
March 13, 201203/13/2012
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Obituary

Matthew Scott Olson died on March 13, 2012, at his sister's home in Durango, Colo., from natural causes. He was 48. Matthew was born on February 5, 1964, in Fargo, N.D., to Wallace and Elizabeth Olson of Halstad, Minn. He grew up on the family farm in Halstad and moved with the family to Sturgis, S.D., when he was 13. He was active in the local horse community, competing in horse shows in Minnesota, South Dakota and eastern Montana, starting at the age of 9 and continued until age 19. He won a 'garage full' of trophies for riding and went as far as the State Championships in Minnesota, and on to the National Championships in Oklahoma. His favorite horse, Shi Roh Sue, was named one of the Outstanding Horses of the World in 1983. He attended Southern Oregon State College in Ashland, Ore., and graduated with a BFA in Theatre. He was active in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Actors Workshop and The Pink Church Cabaret in Ashland. He then moved to Seattle, Wash., to pursue his acting career. He was involved in several theater groups there, including the Aha! Theatre and Seattle Rep. In addition to his acting, he spent 5 years bartending at the Seattle Space Needle. In 2000, he moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, and spent the next 12 years in the restaurant industry, moving into training and supervising. When asked if he missed working in theatre, he would respond that he was "on stage every night" with the restaurant staff and clientele. He continued to support the arts and was an advocate for gay rights. He had just moved to Durango, Colo., to be with his sister and family and to start a new chapter of life when he died. He had only been in Durango two months. He had a wonderful sense of humor, wit and style, an exceptional kind and loving spirit, and made lifelong friends wherever he went. Matthew is survived by his parents, Wallace and Elizabeth Olson, of Sturgis, S.D.; brother Terry Olson of Ranchester, Wyo., sister Dana Wilson of Durango, Colo., and nephews Joe Hardie, Alex Hardie and Deni Olson. A family service and celebration of life is planned for Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis, S.D. Interment will be at the family plot at Augustana church near Halstad, Minn., at a later date. A memorial has been created by his dear friends in Seattle. They are establishing a foundation and a clinic to provide medical care for uninsured artists in the Seattle community. The clinic will be named The Matthew Scott Olson Memorial Clinic. For more information, visit the website at MSOMemorialClinic.org, or on Facebook search the MSO Memorial Clinic. Donations may be tax deductible, please consult a tax professional. Checks can be made to: AAIPC, c/o Bryan Cooper, ARNP, NP-C, 1816 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Seattle, WA 98122

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