Rane K. Olson passed away at the age of 67 on Dec. 16, 2016, after a brief illness. Rane was born in Bellingham to Sig and Charlotte Olson. Being raised in Ferndale on Legoe Lane, Rane enjoyed playing in the fields and in the barn and climbing trees with his siblings and neighborhood friends.
Rane was a hardworking man all his life, beginning on the family farm caring for the cows and the fence lines. At age 16, he worked frying donuts in the morning at the Ferndale bakery, going to school during the day and shipping chickens in the evenings, all while also raising a family. After graduating from Ferndale High School in 1968, Rane became employed with the City of Ferndale, where he worked for 11 years. In 1980, he began working with the City of Bellingham, retiring in 1999. Rane continued to work for RDub for another six years, then occasionally worked with the Marietta Water District.
Rane was an icon in the Ferndale Old Settlers Parade as the driver of the Olson Clan jalopy. As the finale of the parade many people stayed to watch him pop wheelies in the 1929 Model A, oftentimes taking his time to entertain the crowd with overheating, running out of gas or breaking down in an assortment of other ways. In 1993, Rane and the Olson Clan began participating in the annual Custer Day parade as well.
Rane met his wife, Stephanie, in 1993 and was married on May 28, 1999.
Rane was preceded in death by his parents, Sig and Charlotte Olson, and his sister Diane Olson Ryder.
He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Stephanie; brothers Greg (Doni) Olson and Jack (Sherry) Olson; sisters Rozanne Olson and Joanne (Dan) Castles; daughters Patty (Mark) Tripp and Heather (Ken) Wiseman; son Roger Olson; step-children Travis (Jamie) Thomas, Tiffany (Justin) McNutt and Jaime (Jarid) Corbitt; nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren; cousins, nieces and nephews; Stephanie’s brothers and sister-in-law; former brother-in-law Sandy Ryder; lifelong friend Jerry Stoneking and countless other friends.
Rane’s sense of humor, quick wit and smile will be greatly missed not only by his large family but also the Ferndale community.
Celebration of Rane’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 in the Ferndale High School auditorium.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Rescued Hearts Northwest, or a charity of your choice.
You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.molesfarewelltributes.com.
