Carl 'Ken' Olson

In December of 1932, Swan and Margaret (Sjoden) Olson welcomed their son, Ken, to the 4-Bar Ranch just west of Saratoga. Soon, the family, with little sister Elva, returned to Sweden for two years to visit relatives. They returned just as Ken entered first grade, no longer speaking English.

In 1942, the family purchased their first ranch at Cedar Creek. In 1950, Swan purchased the Pick Bar Ranch, northwest of Saratoga. Ken graduated that year as class valedictorian. He declined a scholarship to the University of Wyoming, choosing to ranch instead.

He spent two years in the US Army stationed in...