Shortly after graduating from West Salem High School, Everett Olson was drafted into the army. His brothers Maynard (Army Air Corps), Melvin (Navy), and Lester (Army) also served in WWII, and another brother Willard served during the Korean conflict.

Olson was part of the 42nd Infantry Division that liberated the Dachau concentration camp in southern Germany on April 29, 1945. Dachau was the first and longest-running Nazi concentration camp. The liberation was a major turning point in the war that showed the world the true horrors of the Nazi concentration camps.

Olson was proud to have served his country during the war. According to his family, he was forever impacted by liberating the Dachau concentration camp. After returning to the Coulee Region, he briefly attended UW-La Crosse, after which he worked at the Spence-McCord Drug Company until his retirement. Olson enjoyed being outside and was an avid fisherman, hunter, and golfer.