Donna Ruth Chittim Olson

Donna Ruth Chittim Olson at 82 years of age, went home to be with Jesus at the end of February 2026 at an Adult Family Home in Auburn, WA.

Donna was born in May 1943 in Pleasant Hill, Missouri to the late Rev. Ross and Dora Deane Chittim in the parsonage next to the church where her dad pastored. It was wartime and only wounded soldiers could use the hospital. Donna was sick for the first few months of life since she couldn’t tolerate milk. Goat milk became the solution. She was the 2nd of 4 children (Dwight, Donna, Dora-Lee, and David).  

The family started out in a farming community in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, but moved several times: to Lincoln, NE to be near family while her dad went to seminary in Massachusetts for training as an Army Chaplain, then moved to El Paso, TX to serve in a post chapel and her mother would play organ during the Sunday services. After the war, they moved to Lynden, WA where her dad pastored the Assembly of God church. While there, her dad was recalled into the military as a Chaplain at Fort Lewis during the Korean conflict and the family moved to Tacoma. Then in 1952 they came to Sumner, WA, when her dad started the Sumner Assembly of God church (AKA Sumner Family Church in Sumner, WA). 

Donna graduated in the top 10 of her class of 1961 from Sumner High School. She went on to Pacific Lutheran University, graduating with a BA in Education in 1965. She taught for 4 years in the Federal Way School District, teaching 1st grade and kindergarten. She taught for another 4 years in the Sumner School District 1st and 2nd grades. 

On June 22, 1973 Donna married William “Bill” Olson, a recent widower. Donna not only gained a husband, but also three children whom she adopted: Joseph age 9, Julie age 7 and Ellen age 5; and a printing company, Valley Press, in Puyallup, WA, where she served as office manager for nearly 30 years. Valley Press became their second home to do homework, arts/crafts, and eat meals often on Wednesday nights before going to church. 

Donna enjoyed teaching Sunday School, playing piano and organ, sewing, knitting, baking and reading–especially biographies. She was active in Gideons International since 1979, serving in the Auxiliary in several leadership roles on the local and state levels. 

Bill and Donna were fortunate to do some traveling to Hawaii, the Bahamas, Mexico, and many cities in the US. In 2001 they sold Valley Press. Donna retired to care for Bill’s Mother and her Mother for a few years. They were also members of Sound Life Church, in Spanaway, WA. 

In 2017, they moved to Willow Gardens, a retirement community in Puyallup, WA. There they were involved in the chapel services and Bible studies. Donna played the piano for the services. Donna cared for Bill as his health began to decline. They were married for 52 years. She lived a very full life, living with sacrificial love towards those around her, she will be missed. 

Donna is survived by her husband William “Bill” Olson Children: Joseph (Mary Ann) Olson and son William Julie (David) Christensen, son Jared Ellen (Kris) Scott and sons John Scott and James Scott, daughter Kristi Scott Brothers: Dwight (Lois) Chittim and David (Heidi) Chittim Sister: Dora-Lee (Doug) Langford Sister-in-law: Nancy Gossack And many cousins, nieces and nephews 

Donna is preceded in death by Parents Ross and Dora-Deane Chittim, Aunts: Lillian Byrnes, LaVerne Ruddell, and Faith Neff and great grandson Jobe Elisha Christensen. 

Celebration of Life Service will be held at Sound Life Church in Spanaway, WA at 11:00am on March 28.