Amber Olson

Amber Christine Schick Olson, 46, Overbrook, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly at Stormont Vail Health Center on Tuesday, November 11, due to a cardiac event. Amber was born on June 15, 1979, in Salina, Kansas, the daughter of Lavon and Chris Schick. She grew up in small towns, mainly Lebo, Towanda and Zurich Kansas. She attended Towanda Grade School, Circle High School and later Plainville High School. Amber married Ruark “Rory” Olson on September 3, 1999, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Three daughters were born to their loving union, Taylor, Zoe and Madison. Rory began his military career in the US Army on September 12, 2002. During their time as a military family they made their home at Ft. Bliss, Texas, Ansbach Germany and Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Amber has shared may fond memories, especially of their time in Germany. She developed a few very special lifelong friendships during their time in the military that she cherished deeply. The Olson family settled in Overbook after Rory’s retirement from the Army in January of 2015. Since then she has primarily worked for Casey’s in Carbondale and most recently in her hometown of Overbrook. She loved her work family and getting to know folks in the community. Amber has always had a way of making things festive and fun, creating core memories especially around birthdays and holidays. Her holiday decorations have been legendary in our family, especially at Christmas. She had a collection of snowmen that she took pride in displaying during the season. Amber has always loved giving gifts, from taking care packages to sick friends to surprising someone with that special little something to spark joy. She worked to find just the right thing to lift someone’s spirits and remind them they are loved. Amber loved to cook. She could always find a way to bring tasty and memorable meals to the table. She was known for planning out weekly menus and was methodical in her planning. She loved to try out new recipes and always worked to perfect a few of the old. She worked for years on her chicken fried steak and gravy recipe, which is absolutely delicious. She always took a lot of pride in being able to create meals that people loved. Amber was a passionate advocate for Autism and mental health awareness and the care of individuals. She was continuously educating herself and passing on that knowledge to others to work toward a better world for neurodivergent people and those living with mental health issues. Amber was also passionate about equality and women’s health issues, educating herself on these matters and trying to spread good information to others to improve our society. You can’t really talk about Amber’s life without mentioning her easy smile and heartfelt laugh. She has always loved to laugh and to clown around and be silly. We all have so many fond memories of Amber. Let’s be sure to keep sharing them with one another; it’s how we keep her bright light shining. Amber is survived by her devoted husband Rory, her three beautiful daughters, Taylor, Zoe and Madi; and her mother-in-law, Elaine Olson, all of the home. Amber is also survived by her parents, Chris Hougland (Claude Desair) of Damar, KS and Lavon and Sherry Schick of Carbondale, KS; Grandma Delores Becker of Logan, KS; sister, Bradi Schick of St. George, KS; sisters and brothers from our blended families, Allen (Larissa) Stowe of Carbondale, KS, Patrick (Ashla) Stowe of Topeka, KS, Tracy (John) Cramer of Branson, Jay (Debbie) Hopkins of Fountain Hills, AZ, Christine (John) Haas of Pheonix, AZ, Tara (Travis) Sheilds of Pittsburg, KS, Amanda (Jade) Bunyard of Fredonia, KS, Derrick (Dey-Leigh) Umbarger of Thayer, KS; multiple Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces and Nephews; and she also had several fur-babies that she opened her heart to, Missy, Bear, Luna, Theo, Max, Belle, Ollie, Alfie, Millie and Pearl (the neighbor’s cat who decided she likes living at the Olson home sometimes.) Amber was preceded in death by her Bonus Dad, Michael Hougland, Grandparents, Dorothy Simoneau and Swede Helberg, Louise and Fred Schick, Lloyd Becker, Doris Juneau, and Mildred and C.C. Hougland. Amber will be so sorely missed by all who knew her. Memorial service for Amber will be at 10 a.m. Friday, November 21, at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home to help with expenses.

Amber Olson

June 15, 1979 - November 11, 2025