Eugene Foss Olsen portrait

A life of faith, family, and service

Eugene Foss Olsen

1916–2011

Son, husband, father, missionary, FBI agent, and church leader whose life connected Coalville, San Diego, Orem, Mexico, the Andes, and Chile.

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Life story

Biography

Eugene Foss Olsen (1916–2011) was born in Coalville, Utah, to Daniel Foss Olsen and Esther Anthonette Lybbert. He served in the Spanish American Mission from 1938 to 1940, married Rae Stephens Jones in the Salt Lake Temple on 14 October 1942, and later worked as a Special Agent for the FBI.

Public records place the family in San Diego by 1950. His obituary records extensive service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including the West Mexican Mission presidency, regional service in the Andes area of South America, and service as the first president of the Santiago Chile Temple.

Eugene and Rae moved to Orem in 2002. He died there on 18 August 2011 and was buried in Orem Cemetery. This launch biography is based on the reviewed FamilySearch, Church History Biographical Database, and Deseret News obituary notes preserved in the former JaniceWilliams.org archive.

Across a lifetime

Places that shaped his story

Each place is tied to a reviewed chapter of Eugene’s life; the archive avoids claiming exact dates when only a year or period is known.

Early life
Coalville, Utah
Born and christened in this Summit County community.
1938–1940
Spanish American Mission
Missionary service in Spanish-speaking communities.
By 1950
San Diego, California
Public records place Eugene and his family here by 1950.
1967–1971
Mexico
Service as president of the West Mexican Mission.
1979–1982
Andes region, South America
Regional service across the Andes area of South America.
1982–1985
Santiago, Chile
Service as the first president of the Santiago Chile Temple.
2002–2011
Orem, Utah
Eugene and Rae made their home here in his later years.

Curated exhibit

Eugene Foss Olsen: A Life of Service

From Coalville to Chile

A reader companion following Eugene Foss Olsen from Coalville through missionary service, family life, FBI work, and decades of service across the Americas.

Enter the exhibit

Across a lifetime

Milestones

A chronological path through the records, using friendly date labels wherever the source only establishes a year or range.

8 November 1916
birth
Born in Coalville, Utah
Born to Daniel Foss Olsen and Esther Anthonette Lybbert.
Coalville, Summit, Utah, United States
11 February 1917
milestone
Christened in Coalville
Christened in Coalville, Summit County, Utah.
Coalville, Summit, Utah, United States
16 August 1925
service
Baptized
Baptized by Archie Graham at eight years old.
1938–1940
service
Served in the Spanish American Mission
Served as a missionary from 21 January 1938 through 28 August 1940.
Spanish American Mission
14 October 1942
marriage
Married Rae Stephens Jones
Married Rae Stephens Jones in the Salt Lake Temple.
Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah
By 1950
migration
Living in San Diego by 1950
By 1950, public records place Eugene and his family in San Diego, California.
1967–1971
service
President of the West Mexican Mission
Served from 1967 to 1971 as president of the West Mexican Mission.
1979–1982
service
Regional Representative in the Andes area
Served from 1979 to 1982 as a Regional Representative in the Andes area of South America.
1982–1985
service
First president of the Santiago Chile Temple
Served from 1982 to 1985 as the first president of the Santiago Chile Temple.
2002
migration
Moved to Orem, Utah
Moved with Rae Stephens Jones Olsen to Orem, Utah, in 2002.
18 August 2011
death
Died in Orem, Utah
Died in Orem at age 94.
Orem, Utah, Utah, United States
22 August 2011
death
Buried at Orem Cemetery
Buried at Orem Cemetery following funeral services in Orem.
Orem Cemetery, Orem, Utah, Utah, United States

Research notes

Where this profile comes from

These citations document the public sources reviewed for this launch profile. They are context for further family research, not a claim that every source is equally complete.

01
FamilySearch · Reviewed
FamilySearch KWCD-4FC
FamilySearch public ancestor profile for Eugene Foss Olsen (1916–2011), including vital events, parents, spouse, residences, burial, and attached sources.
Open public source ↗
02
Church History Library · Reviewed
Church History Biographical Database
Church History Biographical Database profile PER-S4TR1JW, including birth, baptism, Spanish American Mission service, marriage, and death.
Open public source ↗
03
Deseret News / Legacy.com · Reviewed
Deseret News obituary
Eugene Olsen obituary, Deseret News, published 20–21 August 2011; used for occupation, later church service, move to Orem, funeral, and burial context.
Open public source ↗

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