Shirley Louise Jasmer Olsen

1943 - 2019

Shirley Louise Jasmer was born March 16, 1943 to Earl & Beatrice Jasmer at the old Payette General Hospital, that was located near where Payette's nursing home is now. Shirley's parents met at the old Ontario roller skating rink, near the Eastside Cafe. The Jasmer family lived on the east side of Payette, near Wayne Abbott's family, and also Dr. George Iwasa's family. Shirley's father Earl died before Shirley was ten years old, so her neighbor Dr. Iwasa became Shirley's father figure. Her mother Bea worked as a nurse's aid at the Payette General Hospital, to support Shirley and her brother Gary. Shirley & Gary Jasmer attended Payette schools. 

Dr. Iwasa stood up for them in Payette on September 20, 1959, when Shirley Jasmer married Berton Peter Olsen, of New Plymouth. Shirley and Bert's sons are Doug and Tim Olsen. These boys went to the Seventh Day Adventist School in Caldwell with Dr. Iwasa's sons. Bert Olsen was a carpenter and his wife and sons worked with him, building houses. However 17 year old Doug Olsen fell off a roof on November 1, 1978. Dr. Joseph Smith operated on Doug and he spent at least half a year rehabilitating in a Boise hospital, with his parents visiting him nearly every day, except one. Shirley & Bert Olsen were instrumental in starting the IDSHIF: Idaho State Head Injury Foundation. Today the Treasure Valley Brain Injury Support Group meet at the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise.

Shirley Olsen worked at Caldwell's Simplot plant as a sensory technician. Shirley enjoyed being involved with her Seventh Day Adventist Church activites. Shirley was an immaculate house keeper, obsessively cleaning her house even if it didn't look like it was needed. However, Shirley valued her friends and family above all else.

Shirley's brother Gary Jasmer served in the U. S. Navy on the USS Yorktown. Shirley's husband Berton Peter Olsen passed away February 23, 2016, after 56 years of marriage. Doug Olsen kept his mother company, until her death of a stroke at the last home they built in Caldwell, passing away on June 19, 2019. Shirley Louise Olsen was survived by her sons Doug & Tim, three grandchildren and at least one great grandchild.

(Doug Olsen provided his mother's obituary information.)