Newell Preston Olsen, 87, husband of Shirley M. Olsen, Logan, died Wednesday, July 26, at Sunshine Terrace from cancer.

Preston was born February 10, 1919 in the house his father built in College Ward, Utah.

He was the first born of 7 children to Newell Jennings Olsen and Mabel Jensen Olsen.

Preston graduated from Rigby High in Idaho in 1937. He received his BS degree in civil engineering and his orders into the Navy the same day. He served over four years with the Naval Air Force, most of the time as Engineering officer with an air squadron on the USS Block Island. After returning home, he worked in the Engineering department for Logan City until being called as a missionary to France in 1946.

While attending church at the Norfolk, Virginia Navy base he met a North Carolina girl named Shirley Mae Maples, who became his wife on September 2,1949 in the Salt Lake LDS temple. In 1950, he and his father started Newell J. Olsen & Son Construction Co. They built commercial buildings and engineering projects from St. George, Utah to Yellowstone National Park and from Lander, Wyoming to Mt. Home, Idaho. It was an interesting and challenging business that he enjoyed very much.

The LDS church meant a great deal to Preston all his life. He served in many church callings including Bishop, ward clerk, gospel doctrine teacher, counselor and serving as Stake Patriarch at the time of his passing.

He was involved with music his whole life. He began playing trumpet at age 10, and played with the Dave England dance band and the community band for many years. He also sang with the Cache Val Aires and with barbershop quartets.

Preston and Shirley have lived in Logan for 57 years and raised three children, one son and two daughters. Preston is survived by his wife, Shirley, and their daughter Marta (Jim) Albee and grandchildren, Christopher (Brandy) Olsen and their son, great grandchild Cannon, and Danielle (Jason) Swartz and their sons, great grandchildren Colby, Caleb, Gavin, and Daxton. Also surviving is one sister, Carol Johnson.

Preston was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Wallace, Roger, and Don, sisters Betty Jean and Norma (Arthur) Olsen, one son, Dwight and one daughter, Debra.

Funeral services will he held at noon on Saturday, July 29, 2006 at the Logan South Stake Center. A viewing will be held from 10:00 to 11:30 AM prior to services. Condolences may be sent to the family at Allen Mortuaries.