Douglas Olson, 82
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 4 years, 11 months AGO
Olson
Douglas Carter Olson
On Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, Douglas Carter Olson passed away unexpectedly of heart failure in Huntersville, N.C. He was 82 years old.
Doug was born in Wallace, Idaho, on Aug. 16, 1939, to Harry and Amber Olson. He grew up in Wallace, along with his younger sister, the late Donna Olson. In high school he met the love of his life, Lile Lundal of Osburn, Idaho. They graduated from Wallace High school and were married on Oct. 5, 1957. They moved to Moscow, Idaho, where Lile worked to help him get through school at University of Idaho. After graduating in 1961, he was hired by Del Monte Foods and they moved to the big city of Oakland, Calif.
Doug was the best dad to their two daughters, Julie and Debra, and their son, Douglas. His career took the family to Costa Rica and Miami. After the kids were grown, his last assignment took him and Lile to Monte Carlo. He retired at 50 years old as president and CEO of Del Monte Fresh Food International, and they returned to their beloved Idaho.
Their beautiful home at Bennett Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene was a magical place for family and friends alike for nearly 20 years. They spent their final years living on Twin Lakes Golf Course in Rathdrum, Idaho, and just recently sold their home and relocated to North Carolina.
Doug traveled the world during his successful career, but it never changed him. He was still the proud Wallace boy who treated everyone with kindness and compassion. He made friends everywhere he traveled, but truly treasured his childhood friends. Everyone who was lucky enough to be in his world for any length of time appreciated what an amazing man he was. His sense of humor and his legendary stories were just two of the reasons he was so loved. Everyone wanted to be adopted by Doug and Lile.
He is survived by his loving wife, Lile, his 2 daughters Julie (John) Aloisio, and Debra (Rand) Jensen, and his son, Douglas (Kim) Olson. He also leaves his nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren who dearly loved their Papa. He will never be forgotten by his family or his many friends. The world is a little less nice without Doug Olson in it.
The family plans on having a celebration of life in Wallace, Idaho, in the summer of 2022, details to follow.