Munthe Victor “Vic” Olson, who was an involved citizen of Pacific Palisades for about 40 years, died January 26 in San Clemente. He was 84. Born in Illinois, Olson grew up in Iowa. During World War II, he served in the Marines as a dive bomber pilot in the Pacific and eventually rose to the rank of captain. After the war, he lived and worked as a building contractor for many years in Pacific Palisades. Olson was an active member of the Palisades Methodist Church, a past president of the Palisades Optimist Club, and during the mid- to late ’50s was the Scoutmaster of Palisades Boy Scout Troop 90. He organized and led many memorial Sierra wilderness backpack adventures for his family and scout troop members, including the summit of Mt. Whitney and the daunting 63-mile “Silver Moccasin” trek. After moving from the Palisades in 1987, Olson owned and operated an avocado ranch in Pauma Valley for a number of years before retiring to Palm Desert. He had just moved to San Clemente last November. On January 31, a memorial service was well attended by his family members, Optimist Club friends, fellow WW II veteran buddies, and former Troop 90 members, who all celebrated Vic Olson’s life by sharing favorite memories. He is survived by his wife, Leonora, whom he married in 1998; two children, Hugh Olson of Tacoma, Washington, and Gretchen Kriwanek of Murrieta; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Phyllis.
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