July 28, 2025
Ron and Bonnie Olsen have found their rhythm in dance and life together at Pacific Springs. Their story is one of unexpected connections, shared passions, and a love that has grown stronger through every waltz and step of life.
For this married couple – Ron is 91 and Bonnie is 85 – their journey together started later in life. It was still a connection that was destined to be.
Ron, a widower, was no stranger to the local car industry. He owned Ron Olsen Dodge and Ford dealership in the Walnut, Iowa-area from 1959 to 2004. After the loss of his first wife, who battled cancer for several years, Ron took a step back from the dealership but continued to help out during the winter months, plowing snow at his former car lot.
It was during this time that fate intervened. He and Bonnie had lived just a few blocks from each other in Omaha for years but had never crossed paths. One wintry day, he was driving to help his daughter with snow removal when he saw Bonnie shoveling the snow from her driveway.
“I stopped and introduced myself,” Ron remembers, recalling the first time he spoke to Bonnie, who was also a widow. “I asked her if she would like some help, and she said, ‘No, thank you.’ I don’t know why, but I said, ‘I lost my wife,’ and she looked at me and said, ‘Well, I’ve lost my husband, too.’ And then I said, ‘We danced.’ And she says, ‘Well, we danced, too.’ Then I said goodbye and went on my way.”
Chuckling at the memory, Bonnie said she had no idea that this unexpected encounter would lead to love. Despite the awkwardness of their first meeting, she was intrigued.
“I told my kids I met this guy up the street,” she recalled. “They said, ‘Well, call him up, Mom, he’s a dancer.’”
Initially hesitant, she decided to wait for Ron to call, which he did months later.
“I was mowing the lawn when he stopped by again, and then a few days later, he called me for a date,” Bonnie said.
For the Olsens, dancing has always been essential to their connection. “We’ve been dancing ever since,” Ron said with a smile. “We dance most generally twice a week.”
Their favorite styles range from waltzes to jitterbugs, and they often follow their favorite bands, such as the Leo Lonnie Orchestra, to different venues around the area. Their love for dance began early on. Bonnie grew up in northeast Nebraska, where ballroom dancing was a local pastime.
“I grew up in Norfolk, Nebraska,” Bonnie shares, “and there was a big ballroom where they had dances on Friday nights.”
Ron, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Germany from 1954 to 1956, said his love for dancing started after he returned from military service.
“I didn’t know how to dance,” he admits, “so I took dance lessons.”
Ron and Bonnie’s bond grew even stronger with time, and in 2011, they were married. Ron proposed in a unique way: “I had asked some guys at (Bonnie’s) work to gather around, and I proposed to her in front of all the technicians at the shop,” he chuckles.
Bonnie laughs at the precious memory: “It was kind of strange but special.”
In 2021, after much consideration, the Olsens found their ideal home at Pacific Springs.
“We walked in and knew immediately this was the place,” Ron said. Their modern patio home overlooks a peaceful golf course, adding a serene backdrop to their daily life. Bonnie loves the garden she has planted in their beautifully manicured backyard. She was also delighted with the home’s spacious walk-in closet, a luxury she’d never had.
“It’s full of shoes and other things,” she laughed.
The couple also enjoys the strong sense of community at Pacific Springs.
“The staff here are wonderful. They know our names, they smile, and they treat us like family,” Ron said.
Bonnie agreed: “It makes it even more special.”
As they enjoy their life together at Pacific Springs, Ron and Bonnie cherish the memories they’ve built and the ones yet to come. Their matching maroon SUVs are a fun symbol of their unity, while their love for dancing remains at the heart of their bond.
Their shared joy of life – and dance – continues to make every day a celebration.
