Wayne Olin

7/8/1925 — 3/19/2014

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Wayne Olin, past executive director of Regence Blue Shield of Idaho, died Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at Tri-State Memorial Hospital in Clarkston. Dad was 88.

He was born July 8, 1925, in Blanchard, Idaho, to Charles and Corenia Mace Olin. He graduated from Spirit Lake High School. He was very proud of his Spirit Lake, Idaho, roots and referred to his hometown often. He served two years in the U.S. Navy during World War II, 18 months in the South Pacific attached to the staff of the commander of Motor Torpedo Squadron's 7th Fleet. Dad was responsible for the "codes." He often told the story that if his ship was ever under attack that he was to grab the code book, place it and a brick in a gunny sack and toss it over the side into the ocean. He never had to perform this task.

He was enrolled at North Idaho College of Education in 1946 and graduated in May 1950 with a bachelor of arts in secondary education. While attending NICE, he worked in the personnel department for Potlatch Corporation in Lewiston. Dad often told stories about washing his red Ford convertible out on the lawn of the college. I am sure that is where he caught the eye of our mother, Molly Vorous of Clarkston. He asked Mom to marry him while watching one of the apartment buildings close to campus burn. They were married Aug. 4, 1951, at Clarkston. Their daughter, Cindy, was born in 1955, and son Brett was born in 1957. In 1954, he was appointed assistant manager of North Idaho District Medical Service Bureau, assistant executive director in 1964 and executive director in 1975. Dad made monthly visits to the Kellogg-Wallace-Coeur d'Alene area servicing mining and lumbering accounts. Needless to say, he really worked his way up through the ranks to the president and CEO of the Medical Service Bureau of Idaho. Dad was a past chairman of the board of directors of the Lewis-Clark Valley Boys Club and past chairman of the board of directors of the Lewiston Golf and Country Club. Dad joined the Scottish Rite in March 1958. He worked in the Scottish Rite actively for 10 years as venerable master of the 20th degree. He joined the Shrine in May 1961, was active in the Oriental Band and president of the Oriental Band for three years prior to being appointed to the Divan in 1967. He is a past potentate of the Calam Temple of the Shrine.

In 1978, Mom answered the phone. The White House was calling. Dad was on the golf course. Mom got word to him that he was being summoned to be in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Dad was sure it was a gag being pulled on him by one of his golfing buddies. He continued to play nine holes of golf. He got home and returned the call. It was not a hoax. Dad was to meet with President Jimmy Carter to discuss the administration's health care costs. Dad was appointed by Gov. Cecil Andrus to serve as a commissioner of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association and served for 11 years. Dad retired from the MSB on May 1, 1991. That same year, he was appointed to the Lewiston Port Commission.

Dad was a devoted father, grandfather and, for too short a period of time, a great-grandpapa. He loved being on Coeur d'Alene Lake, where we had the family trailer at Sun Up Bay from 1973-2005. He enjoyed fishing and taking us waterskiing. He loved sharing the lake with his grandsons, Matthew and Patrick Hoffman and Slade Byers. Dad was able to spend time with his grandson Patrick on the Washington State University campus, often meeting him and taking him for lunch. He loved to travel and was fortunate to go to Australia, Fiji, Hawaii and throughout the United States. Mom passed away in 1992. Dad will be sorely missed by all. He was lucky enough to reconnect with an old friend, Rita Paolini, who has been a very important part of his life. We are blessed that she was there to keep him young for as long as she did.

Survivors include his daughter, Cindy Olin Hoffman (Rick) of Yakima; a son, Brett M. Olin (Linda) of Lewiston; his sister, Winifred Olin Luders of Spokane; his sister- in-law, Shirlie Vorous Johnson of Henry's Lake, Idaho; and his grandsons, Matthew William Hoffman of Cambridge, England, Patrick Olin Hoffman of Shoreline, Wash., and Slade Byers of Spokane. And last but not least, he is survived by his beautiful great-granddaughter, who he was fortunate to see and visit with 10 days ago, Myla Alexandria Hoffman.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; and brothers Raymond C. Olin and Alvin E. Olin.

The family would like to thank everyone who helped our dad Monday evening: the ambulance, police and people of Tri-State Memorial Hospital. We appreciate all that you did to make dad's last hours as peaceful as possible.

A celebration of life will be set at a later date. Mom and Dad will be interred at the family plot in Spirit Lake. The family suggests memorials be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA, 99210, or to the American Cancer Society.

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