Olson, 85, was born March 11, 1927, in Petaluma, California. He graduated from the College of the Pacific in 1956 and North Park Theological Seminary in 1961. He was ordained in 1962.
Olson married Mildred Helgerson on June 24, 1961.
He served Covenant churches in the Northeast: Woodstock and Stamford in Connecticut, and Glenburn Covenant Church and Ohio Street Covenant Church in Bangor. Olson served the Glenburn church for 26 years.
In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Sarah Ramgren and Rebecca Dowling, and two sons, Daniel Olson and Andrew Olson.