Tom Olson

On Sunday, November 19, 2023, Heaven welcomed home one of the Greats as Tom Olson peacefully passed away surrounded by family and loved ones on both sides of the veil. His journey was anything but ordinary, as evidenced by the remarkable life he lived and the untold number of lives he touched with his humor, friendship, wisdom, and love.

Tom was one of 12 children born to Les and Reva Olson (6 boys and 6 girls). He was kind hearted and also quite mischievous in nature, so his life was full of adventure from his early days. He and his brothers and sisters shared many childhood memories over the years, with Tom always in the middle of the trouble and escapades they all experienced together.

Tom graduated from Skyline High School in 1966 and joined the United States Air Force where he served as a sergeant in the Strategic Air Command unit in Amarillo, Texas and at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Also in 1966, he married his high school sweetheart, Kathy “Kate” Powell, with whom he had three children, Kim (Gordon), Amy (Scott), and Clayton. Tom and Kate divorced in 1971. Several years later Tom met and married the love of his life, Sally Kone, and they became a blended family with Sally’s daughter, Jody. Together they also have a son, Jason (Kendra). Tom and Sally shared over 45 wonderful years of marriage together. During that time, the family has grown to include 14 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Tom spent his professional life working for the family business, Les Olson Company, serving in many capacities from the company’s inception in 1956 until he retired as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer in 2012. Tom also had many interests, including hunting, fishing, boating, watching and betting on all the football, basketball, and baseball games, with his enthusiasm for playing golf surpassing them all. For several years, he served on the board of directors and as Chairman of the Board at Alpine Country Club.

In 2014, Tom combined his passion for golf with another deeply personal interest of his—sobriety. He and a fellow friend in recovery had an idea, and with the help of several others, including 3 of his brothers, Good Time Golf was founded as a 501(c)(3) charity. Almost 10 years later, Good Time Golf is still going strong in its mission “to provide a safe and sober environment for those recovering from substance abuse and mental health issues to connect, golf, and grow.” He often used his own life experiences to help others, and in addition to the creation of Good Time Golf, Tom “starred” in the documentary, “Road Back,” a film highlighting the all too real truth that there’s no easy path through addiction. The movie was previewed at an event in Hollywood, California in 2017.

Tom had a reassuring presence that made everyone feel at ease when they were around him. He was good-natured in any circumstance, and his wit and charm could only be rivalled by his kindness and generosity of spirit. He was a giant of a man who lived life on his own terms. He left this earth the same way.

A viewing will be held on Friday, December 1, 2023, from 6PM – 8PM at Anderson & Goff Mortuary, 11859 South 700 East, Draper, Utah. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 2 at The Church of Jesus Christ-of-Latter Saints building located at 1450 Raddon Drive, Sandy, Utah at 11AM with a viewing preceding the service from 10AM – 10:40AM. Interment will follow at the Mount Olivet Cemetery located at 1342 East 500 South in Salt Lake City.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Good Time Golf at tomolson72par.com.

The service will be livestreamed on the Anderson & Goff Mortuary Facebook Page at the following link: 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Anderson-Goff-Mortuary-293949407707203/ 
(The livestream video will appear when the service starts.)