Sherrel Lynn Eslinger Olsen

Sherrel Lynn Eslinger Olsen, 84, passed peacefully on September 5, 2025, at home in Buhl, surrounded by her family. Sherrel was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, on June 12, 1941, to parents Arthur Wilbur Eslinger and Eugenia Elder Eslinger. She was the oldest of four children.

Sherrel was raised in Jerome, Idaho. In high school, she met Larry Dean Olsen, a boy whose life dream was to explore the wilderness and practice primitive living. Sherrel was fascinated by his interests, later remarking, “He should have been born in the cave man days.” Larry said of her, “She was very academic, organized, beautiful…. and I fell for her!” Sherrel was also attracted to Larry’s strong faith and began to study gospel lessons with him during lunch hours at school. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 16, and Larry was the one who baptized her.

Larry loved that Sherrel was willing to try new things, so their dates often consisted of hiking, foraging for wild edible plants, and exploring endless caves and canyons for Indian artifacts. Sherrel’s fortitude and bravery while enduring adventures filled with dirt, thorns, and rattlesnakes won Larry’s heart, making her the girl of his dreams.

Shortly after graduating high school, Sherrel and Larry were married on June 16, 1959, in the Idaho Falls Temple and, of course, honeymooned in a teepee. Painted on their car as they left their wedding were the words, “Watch Idaho Grow!” And it did. Together they raised 10 children: four daughters and six sons. Their family has since grown to 43 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.

Sherrel and Larry’s passion for living sustainably off the land and studying primitive survival skills inspired their entire life journey together. Over the years, they shared countless adventures and experiences. In the 1960’s, they lived in Utah where Larry taught survival courses at BYU. They spent many summer seasons living in a teepee with their young children while Larry ran survival expeditions in southern Utah. Sherrel was proficient at maintaining a beautiful and functional teepee home in the wilderness. Over the years, they started outdoor survival programs in Utah, Montana, Idaho, and Arizona, dedicating their lives to helping thousands of youth and adults by spending long periods of time living in the wilderness, counseling and teaching their students. When Larry and Sherrel co-founded the Anasazi Wilderness Program with Ezekiel and Pauline Sanchez in 1988, Sherrel was the first female instructor, going out on the trail for many weeks to walk with and teach the young students.

In the 1970’s, Larry and Sherrel started a homesteading school in Montana. During this time, Sherrel was active in civic and moral discussions, speaking to large audiences across the state of Montana and eventually becoming a delegate to Washington, D.C., to represent her state. Guided by her faith, she shared her perspective on social issues of the time. Her voice reflected her deep commitment to traditional values and personal integrity.

Sherrel not only embraced and thrived in this beautifully unique lifestyle, doing everything side by side with her husband, but she was also passionate about canning food and sewing clothing for her family, crocheting, baking bread, gardening, emergency preparedness, family history, service, and church work - and most importantly, her children and her faith. She loved to learn and study deeply whatever subject interested her, and then she would write articles and teach classes in her church and community on those subjects. In 1967, Sherrel assisted Larry in writing, editing, and publishing the book “Outdoor Survival Skills”, which became a national bestseller. Sherrel was a woman on the front lines and also the woman behind the scenes making everything possible.

For many years, Sherrel and Larry owned and operated Miracle Hot Springs in Buhl, Idaho, which was built by Larry’s father, Dean Olsen, in 1959. Miracle Hot Springs is now owned and operated by the fourth generation of Olsens.

From 2004-2006, Sherrel and Larry served a full-time service mission in Myanmar (Burma), teaching English, building little schools, and digging water wells. When they returned home, they continued to serve in their church and community in many ways, such as teaching job skills to the unemployed and resettling Burmese refugees in Idaho, until Larry passed away in December 2018.

Sherrel kept a daily journal throughout most of her life, which she treasured. One of her favorite things later in life was going through all those journals and pulling out stories and experiences to put together in a book for her family. She wasn’t able to complete the project, but her children are working to finish it for her. She also enjoyed spending time with her children and grandkids, playing Yahtzee, Canasta, and Rummikub, collecting rocks, and eating vanilla ice cream. She LOVED her vanilla ice cream!

Sherrel is survived by her three siblings, Marilyn Ihler Jepsen, Lee Eslinger and Ray Eslinger; her ten children, Farah Hosman, Jane, Lorinda, Udaya (Suzanne), Reuben (Pilar), Nathan (Erica), Enoch (Elizabeth), Joshua (Jaime), Amber (Dave), and Luke (Delia); 42 grandchildren; and 38 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Eslinger (Lillian) and Eugenia (Joe Duffek) (Edwin Nutsch); as well as her husband of 60 years, Larry Dean Olsen; her grandson Porter; and her son-in-law, Brent Hosman.

The family would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the individuals at Visions Hospice for all their support and care over the last several months.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, with a viewing beginning at 10:00 am, Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 501 Main St, Buhl, Idaho. Grave dedication will conclude at West End Cemetery, Buhl.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Sherrel’s memorial webpage at www.farmerfuneralchapel.com.