Dennis Linn Olsen

Dennis Linn Olsen of Longview, Washington, passed away peacefully on ­­September 12, 2023.

He was born on November 10, 1940, in Auburn, Washington to Russell Lyman Olsen and Gladys Viola Sorensen.  As a young person his interests were music, art, and sports. He joined the Air Force after high school. After his service he intended to become a teacher, when his uncle introduced him to Jesus Christ who changed Dennis’s life and its entire direction. This new direction led him into Christian ministry where he received Bible training through Multnomah School of the Bible and Western Baptist Seminary earning a Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees. 

Dennis pastored six churches in his 40 years of full-time pastoral ministry before semi-retiring in 2004.  He taught for over 10 years as an adjunct professor for Western Baptist College/ Corban University, Oregon Theological Seminary, Faith Seminary, and Western Seminary in the areas of Bible, theology, and ministry skills. After retiring he worked as the Associate Director of Church Now for Conservative Baptist Northwest and an interim pastor for many churches transitioning between leadership. 

He married Judy Atwood in 1965. Judy passed away in 1993. He remarried and is survived by his wife of 29 years, Kim Olsen. Dennis and Judy had five children: Anisa (Stan) Kisamore, Chris (Jennifer) Olsen, Shan (Shawna) Olsen, Kathleen (Joshua) McDaniel, and Trene (Mark) Coquet; fourteen grandchildren: Brindi (Max) McDonald, Ian Kisamore, Marissa Olsen, Kyra (Bill) Organ, Tristen Olsen, Alex (Richelle) Anelon, Hannah (Cody) Stephens, Rachael Anelon, Brendon (Emma) McDaniel, Ashlyn and Cortlyn McDaniel, Kael, Hailey, and Ella Coquet; and one great-grandchild: Xander Anelon. Dennis is also survived by his step-mother Sharon Olsen Linke, three siblings: Robert Olsen, Patricia Babcock, and Retta Kerwood, and eight nieces and nephews.

Dennis was a generous and loyal person who dedicated his life to serving his Lord and Savior.  He had full confidence in the Lord and His promises and led his life, his congregations, and his family by those truths. He felt humbled and honored to be a minister of the gospel and looked forward to seeing his Lord face to face.

The family wishes to acknowledge and send a very special thank you to the wonderful caregivers who helped Dennis at home and, toward the end, at the Canterbury Inn’s Hudson Court memory care wing and Eden Hospice. He lived a fuller and longer life because of you.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers Dennis requested donations be made to two ministries that were dear to him: Thru the Bible Radio Broadcast and Portland's Western Seminary.