Lee Olsen

Lee’s service Will be livestreamed below at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Lee F. Olsen, age 88, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2025 at Bethany Retirement Living on 42nd Street in Fargo, North Dakota with wife Edie by his side.

A proud native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, he was born March 22, 1937 to Clarence J. and Lorraine Clark Olsen. In 1955, Lee graduated from Green Bay West High School where he lettered in tennis and swimming. He received his bachelors’ degree from Carroll College in Waukesha, WI and obtained his master’s degree from the University of New Mexico and Ph. D. from the University of Wisconsin.

Lee began his career as a high school biology teacher in Muskego, Wisconsin, where he met and married Mary Carol Opgenorth. They would welcome two sons, Bret David Olsen and Ross Bartley Olsen.

Lee moved from the classroom into school district leadership, serving as Superintendent of Schools in Des Moines and Estancia, New Mexico; Monroe, Wisconsin; Hamilton School District in Sussex, Wisconsin; Enid, Oklahoma; Bellingham, Washington K-12 and Vo-Tech; McFarland, Wisconsin; and Ault, Colorado. He was regarded (and sometimes criticized) as a “visionary” leader — managing purchase of properties in advance of need for new schools, creating multi-phase plans to upgrade old schools, coordinating property agreements with city leaders to provide site for a fire department, working with police departments on drug abuse projects, and initiating bond issues for technology when “ the chalkboard is fine; no one will ever need one of these new-fangled computers.”

Lee was an active member of the American Association of School Administrators, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, National Organization on Legal Problems in Education, Phi Delta Kappa, Washington Association of School District Administrators and Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators. Among many honors and awards were Equity in Funding Committee – Wisconsin Association of School Boards; Award for Professional Excellence and Distinguished Service – Western Washington University; Outstanding Service Award – Northwest Educational Service District; National Academy of School Executives; Wisconsin Legislature Citation for Educational Leadership; Western Washington University Professional Education Board; Oklahoma School Administration Executive Committee; Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and United Way Board of Directors – Enid, OK; and featured in The Wisconsin Center for Education Research: Twenty-five Years of Knowledge Generation and Educational Improvement.

In 1992, Lee met Edie L. Holcomb (Detroit Lakes HS, 1964) at the University of Wisconsin. They married in 1994 and in 1999 – to fulfill Edie’s dream of a place by the water — they purchased and repaired a small condo in Maui. It was an investment of hard work that paid great dividends in wonderful friends and happy times away from 23 Midwest winters. But Lee could not sit back and relax – his leadership skills were needed and he served for ten years as a member of the Mahana Board of Directors in roles of vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and on Property and Legal committees. Major accomplishments during that time included purchase of the leasehold interest on the property, with major renovation of lobby, galleries and tennis courts. Rapid change from a mostly residential to rental complex created factions and Lee was described as a calming influence due to his non-confrontational style.

In all of Lee’s leadership roles, he exemplified principles of open communication, listening to understand, thinking ahead for prevention of problems and long-term solutions, and representing the good of the whole.

Lee also contributed many personal hours as an informal mentor of young men seeking his wisdom in finances and life in general. Some examples included Kent Ostergaard, foreign exchange student from Denmark; pilots from Ecuador and Italy training at Vance Air Force Base; and numerous educators nurtured into positions as principals and superintendents, as well as individual relationships often begun at Wisconsin supper clubs. One group of fellows met regularly at a restaurant where Lee always sat with his back to the wall in a corner booth observing intently, which earned him the nickname “Godfather.”

Lee enjoyed watching sports and was a season ticket holder and stock owner in the Green Bay Packers. He was also loyal to the University of Wisconsin Badgers – with season tickets in football, men’s basketball, and women’s volleyball. He loved classical music, marching bands if they played “real” (Sousa) marches, and the “golden oldies” of the 50s and 60s.

Ever the science teacher, Lee was an avid gardener, tending fruits, vegetables and flowers. Whether on an acre of land or just a patio or deck – indoors or outdoors – flora flourished. He gently live-trapped and relocated over 30 squirrels, two opossums and a raccoon from his Madison deck garden to “diversify the gene pool of the west side woods.” Tropical fish thrived in his aquariums. He loved dogs, especially Labrador retrievers.
Lee loved snuggling and reading books with all the children. One great-nephew proclaimed him “the best story-reader ever.”

Lee is survived by his wife Edie; two sons Bret (Marie) and Ross of Bellingham, WA; and two grandchildren Melanie Staton (Derek) of Maple Falls, WA and Jared Olsen of Fargo, ND. Nieces and families include Kayla McCauley-Hahn (Stefan), Aidan, Eli and Judy of Kenmore, WA; Regina Brott (Lukas), Johanna, Weston, Silas, Hayes and Elisha of Cannon Falls, MN; Kacie Schulz (Ryan), Fletcher and Arlo of Fargo, ND; Danielle Hamilton (Caleb), Cal, Skyler and Hank of Evansville, MN. He is also survived by Goddaughter Gabriella Cortes of Bellingham, WA; cousin Steve Parmentier of Green Bay and brother-in-law Ellis Holcomb (Elaine) of Park Rapids, MN. He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary, brothers-in-law Ken and Jerry Opgenorth and grandniece Ada Brott.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Hope Lutheran South, 3636 25th St. So., Fargo, with viewing and visitation at 1:00 and lunch following. A second service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, May 16, 2025, at Ft. Howard Memorial Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with a visitation one hour prior followed by burial and a reception. Arrangements are being handled through Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo and Lyndahl Funeral Home, Green Bay.

Lee’s family is grateful to PAM Rehabilitation Hospital for prolonged mobility and for compassionate care at Bethany Retirement Living on 42nd Street in Fargo, and Hospice of the Red River Valley. In lieu of flowers, memorials would be welcome to Hospice of the Red River Valley.