Opal Adele Slaughter Olsen, 81, of Idaho Falls, passed away on Saturday, December 26, 2015, in St. George, Utah. Adele was born July 28, 1934, in Bakersfield, California, to George Leon Slaughter and Esther Sophie Johnson. She attended school and graduated from East Bakersfield High School.
Adele attended Ricks College and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in elementary education in 1957.
She married Lynn Ernest Olsen, December 20, 1958, in the Los Angeles LDS Temple. Together they reared six children: Steven Bret, Michael Zane, Eric Lynn, Linda, David Leon and Barry Slaughter.
Adele enjoyed a long and fruitful career as an elementary school teacher, starting in 1960 in District 91 at Dora Erickson Elementary and concluding her career in District 93 at Tiebreaker Elementary in 1995.
Adele was a faithful, devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in positions in the Sunday School, Primary and Relief Society throughout her life. She and Lynn served a full-time mission at the Benemerito de las Americas High School (now the Mexico MTC) in Mexico City from 1998 through 2000. They taught English and were house parents to 16 boys.
Adele was a devoted mother and grandmother and loyal friend who cared deeply about those she knew. She had a special talent to help each person she knew feel loved.
She is survived by her husband, Lynn Ernest Olsen of Rigby and St. George, Utah; sons Bret (Lynette) Olsen of Idaho Falls; Michael (Lisa) Olsen of Provo, Utah; Eric (Patricia) Olsen of Pocatello; and Barry (Julieta) Olsen, of Pebble Beach, California; and her daughter Linda (Jay) Moore of Hays, Kansas; 18 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Larry Dean Slaughter and son David Leon Olsen.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 2, 2016 at the Ucon Stake Center, 2967 E. 105th N, just off US 20 (Ucon Exit #315) with Bishop Michael Gifford officiating. The family will visit with friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, January 1, 2016 at Eckersell Funeral Home at 101 West Main St. in Rigby and from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be at Rigby Pioneer Cemetery. Adele cared deeply about education and believed it was one of the best ways to help people improve their lives. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund in Adele’s name by clicking on the following link http://give.lds.org/pef.