Raymond Albert Olsen passed away October 25, 2024 at the age of 97. He was born to Norwegian immigrants, Kristian Oren Olsen and Kirsten Pileberg Olsen in the fishing village of Petersburg, Alaska on March 3, 1927.  Following in his father’s footsteps, Ray began commercially fishing in Pacific waters at the age of 15. 

As a young man he overcame many hardships, including tuberculosis, which required him to move to Seattle for isolation. After recovering, he joined the Merchant Marines, training at Catalina Island, California and serving on a Liberty Ship as a radio operator and Morse code translator in Okinawa and the Philippines. 

After World War II, Ray fished out of Juneau, Alaska where he met a Southern California farm girl, Alice Margaret Thornborrow, who had sailed to Alaska and was working at Percy’s Ice Cream Parlor. She made him tacos on their first date.  Ray and Alice got married in Juneau on Christmas Eve, 1950 and spent their early married years at Fort Richardson, Alaska, where they started their family.  They went on to have six children. In 1959 they relocated to the Ballard area of Seattle. 

Ray longlined for blackcod and halibut, spending over a half century fishing in the North Pacific and Bering Sea as a well-respected deckhand, captain and boat owner. Most of his children joined him at sea at times, including a short period when four of his children worked together as deckhands. During winter months, he delivered home heating oil so he could have insurance for his children to go to the dentist. Always a good provider, Ray had a wonderful vacation cabin built for his family on Lake Roesiger  -- even though he didn’t swim. 

Upon retirement from commercial fishing, Ray and Alice spent much of their time in Hawaii with their family, and traveled the  globe, gathering adventures and stories to bring back home. In 2009, after 58 devoted years together, Alice passed and Ray became a snowbird in Arizona. There, he rediscovered his adolescent love of pool and poker and spent time with his dog, Jack. Back in Ballard during the summers, he pursued his love of the sea, sportfishing for salmon.

After the pandemic ended, he moved to Quail Park of Lynnwood, where the staff provided him loving and thoughtful care. 

Unfailingly a kind, generous, and good man who strived to do his best, he will be forever loved and cherished by his family. 

Ray was predeceased by his wife Alice, their son Jim, and his sisters Irene and Sandra.  He is survived by his daughters Christine (Mark) and Kathryn; sons Eric (Karen), Dave (Margaret), and Gary (Laurie); 14 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; his sister, Karen; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will take place from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, December 14th, 2024 at Sunset Bay Lodge at Ballard Elks, 6411 Seaview Ave. NW, Seattle, Washington. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in his memory to Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial, P.O. Box 17356 Seattle WA 98107.