July 17, 1968 – June 13, 2024
We celebrate the life of Rachel. She was born to Richard (Dick) Olsen and Clintena Wells Olsen in Albany. She moved with them, and her brother Jerry, one block to their Broadalbin Street home on her first birthday. Rachel grew up there and attended Albany public schools at Central Grade School and West Albany High. She particularly enjoyed Central and we heard many accounts as to what was going on there at dinner times. It was often about Skinny the janitor and what he had to say about this or that. Rachel loved Central and was key to saving it from destruction in 1980. Without Rachel’s efforts Central would be only a fading memory today. You can read further about her efforts to save Central at dickolsen.us/saving-central-school.
Rachel went on to graduate from Santa Clara University in California and work as a chemist for a short time. She then recalled how she had enjoyed the dogs, several kitties and the large flock of non flying, half-breed ducks in our back yard canal. She came home to Oregon, became a Beaver, and graduated from Oregon State School of Veterinary Medicine as Dr. Rachel A. Olsen, DVM.
While studying at OSU, Rachel and some of her vet school friends became aware of the climbing wall in the OSU football building across the street. They became so enthusiastic and proficient they decided to test their skills at Smith Rock State Park in central Oregon. We were leery of the verticality and height of Smith Rock, but they were not to be denied. They all came home safely and also had made some climbing friends from a Seattle climbing club.
When she graduated and was looking for employment, the criteria for Rachel was not money, or prestige, but location. It turned out she had a rock climbing friend in Seattle named Mike Smith. Mike and Rachel were soon married at Smith Rock State Park. They had several hair raising climbing adventures; however, in less than two years, the hair raising adventures were put aside after the birth of their sweet daughter Emersen. No babe was ever more loved by her parents than Emersen.
She may have been Dr. Rachel, but there was nothing stuffy or pretentious about Rachel. She loved life and lived it to the fullest. She enjoyed and often helped engineer events our extended family provided for anniversaries, birthdays, showers, weddings, etc. She particularly enjoyed Thanksgivings and Fourths of July with aunts, uncles and cousins. Later on, she engineered wonderful parties such as the surprise party she threw for her aged Dad’s 80th birthday at the Naked City Tap House on Greenwood Avenue in Seattle. We weren’t naked! But we sure had a good time. A big 60th birthday party for the love of her life, husband Mike was another at the Seattle climbing club. We can still see her impishly, beautiful smile and laughter at these and so many other celebrations. She is and will be sorely missed.
Being medically trained, Rachel knew the implications of her struggles with metastatic cancer. She fought hard to recover and sought the best advice and treatment. We were hopeful until near the end that new treatments being developed in Seattle and Portland medical centers would do the trick. Fortunately, Rachel was able to be at home with Mike, and Emersen when she passed. Hopefully she is now in a place where she can be with her friends, furry and otherwise. She loved them and they so dearly loved her in return in this life.
Rachel is survived by her husband Mike and daughter Emersen, her parents Dick and Clintena, her brothers Jerry and Joel and Joel’s daughter Ryenne, her Uncles Jim (Barb), Paul (Karen), Tim (Deb), her Aunt Ruth Peterson, and twenty-seven first cousins. Rachel was preceded in death by her Uncle Bob and Aunt Kaye, her Uncle Jon Peterson, and cousin Raoul Titus.
A celebration of Rachel’s life will be held daily in our hearts.