Michael "Mike" Olsen of Deadwood, SD gave his life force back to the Universe at his home in Deadwood on April 18, 2025. He died from complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

He was born on February 1, 1956 to William "Bill" Olsen and JoAnne (Marshall) Olsen in Munchweiler an der Rodalb, Germany. At the time, Munchweiler an der Rolb was in West Germany, and Olsen's father was serving as a reconnaissance pilot in the US Army at the nearby airfield at Pirmasens. The family lived in West Germany until the spring of 1958.

Upon returning to the States, Olsen's father began a career with the former retailer Montgomery Ward & Co. He was transferred several times, leading to the family moving frequently throughout Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska. The longest that Mike lived in one place and attended school was in Deadwood, SD from 1966-1971, where he attended grades 5 -9. He graduated from Northeast High School in Lincoln, NE in 1974.

After high school graduation, Mike attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He earned Bachelor's (1978) and Master's degrees (1982) in the history of Art. He remained in Rhode Island for 18 years and had a career in marketing and product development in the costume jewelry industry. His last position was with Liz Clairborne, which provided opportunities for extensive business travel in Europe and Asia. In 1998, Mike began the weekend culinary program at Johnson and Wales University, completing it in 2000. Additionally, Mike was accomplished in ice skating and taught/coached pairs ice dancing for 12 years at various ice rinks in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Mike relocated to Corrales, NM, near Albuquerque, in 2000. He held various kitchen positions and ultimately became manager at Prairie Star, a 3 Star restaurant on the Santa Ana Pueblo.

In 2003 following the death of his life partner of 21 years, Paul Trudeau, Mike returned to Deadwood at the urging of his childhood friend Louie Lalonde. He worked as the wine manager at the Deadwood Social Club for 9 years. He later became manager of the Deadwood Welcome Center and the Deadwood History and Information Center for the Lead/Deadwood Chamber of Commerce. He taught a generation of schoolchildren how to swim at the Deadwood Rec Center over a 13-year period. He also coached the Deadwood/Lead Swim Team for a number of years. He was a ski instructor at Terry Peak for 4 years. Mike served on several commissions as well, including Deadwood Historic Preservation, and was member of The Society of Black Hills Pioneers. His family roots in the Hills date back to 1976.

Mike is survived by his younger brother, Tim Olsen (Hope Foster) of Sheridan, Wyoming; niece, Tressie Olsen (Peter Livadas) and great niece, Joanne Livadas of Austin, TX; aunts, Audy (Paul) Grubl, Judy Kieffer, and Barbara Olsen, all of Lancaster, CA; aunts, Patty Olsen of Bishop, CA and Becky (Larry) Carson of Eaton, CO, and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his life partner, Paul Trudeau; father, William "Bill" Olsen; mother, JoAnne (Marshall) Olsen; uncles, Carl, Ed, and Darrel Olsen, and aunts, Carole (Olsen) Wolken, Darlene Olsen, and Sally (Marshall) Talley.

His body has been cremated and will be returned to Mother Earth at a later date.