Dayton Lavern Olson

Dayton was born to Donald Ender Olson and Mable Ann Mauser on August 29, 1932 in Big Springs, Nebraska. He graduated high school from Big Springs, NE in 1950. He attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln Nebraska from 1950-1954. Dayton graduated with a Bachelor degree in Humanities and Master Degree in Philosophy of Religion and post graduate in Social Ethics from Iliff School of Theology in Denver Colorado.

He married Rosina (Rosy) Estella Ammon in Bassett, Nebraska on August 4th, 1953. They celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2023.

Dayton was a minister of a number of Methodist Churches in Nebraska, Colorado and Illinois. He was a Chaplain at Nebraska Wesleyan. Dayton was also manager at Denny's Restaurant and served as Administrator/Consultant for U.S. Senator Floyd K. Haskell. He was a fund raiser for National Jewish Hospital and Program Planner for American Friends Service Committee in Des Moines, Iowa and Denver, Colorado. He also worked at Ace Hardware for several years in Estes Park, Colorado.

Dayton liked to hike in the Rocky Mountains weekly for many years. He climbed Longs Peak about 4 times and climbed the Powell Route 2 times with his son, Michael. Dayton volunteered at Rocky Mountain National Park in the Elk Bugle Corps and Big Horn Sheep Patrol.

Dayton is survived by his wife and two sons, Vance and Michael, nephew Mark Kjeldgaard and niece Julie Walsh. Dayton died March 9th, 2024 at the age of 91 years and was cremated.

Memorials can be sent to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, P.O. Box 3100, Estes Park, CO 80517 or RMConservancy.org