Background
Olsen was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1926 to Edward Olai and Lillian (Sundberg) Olsen.
Olsen was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1926 to Edward Olai and Lillian (Sundberg) Olsen.
After graduating from high school in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Olsen attended the Prince Albert Collegiate Institute and the University of Saskatchewan, graduating from the latter with a Bachelor of Science
In civil engineering. After working in the engineering industry for around 10 years, Olsen then received his commission to be a land surveyor in the prairie provinces. Olsen also served as president of the Alberta Land Surveying Association in 1959.
Olsen was elected to the Edmonton City Council for Ward 4 in 1971, 1974 and 1977.
Olsen was also a member of the Saskatchewan Land Surveyors Association, retiring in January 1984. Olsen is a member of the Garneau United Church in Edmonton as well as the local Rotary Club.