Cherie Faye Olson, first child of Harold and Katherine Olson of rural Platte County, Nebraska, was born at home on April 27, 1937. She died at age 88 on April 9, 2026, at Bristol Glen Nursing Home in Newton, New Jersey, near her sister Roma Olson Oster and brother-in-law, Paul Oster, who reside in Rockaway, New Jersey. Cherie was baptized at home with the pastor of the Looking Glass Methodist Church, located in Platte County, Nebraska, officiating.

Harold, Katherine, and Cherie moved to a cattle ranch northeast of Bartlett in Wheeler County, Nebraska in 1939. Harold taught Cherie how to ride a horse when she was very young. Cherie started first grade at Wheeler County School District 5 (sometimes called “the Mignery School” or “the stone schoolhouse”) when she was four years old, riding a horse to school, securing it in the little barn at the school, and riding it home again in the afternoon. Two of her teachers were Lillian Zimmermann (later Sturek), and Esther Weber. Cherie took piano lessons from Esther Weber and practiced on the big upright piano Harold and Katherine had bought “used”.

After Cherie completed eighth grade she attended Wheeler County High School in Bartlett, Nebraska (WCHS), graduating as Salutatorian of her class in 1954. She was too young to have a learner’s permit or a driver’s license, so she stayed at the girls’ dormitory at WCHS four nights a week, driving a car across the hills from the ranch to the eastern edge of US Hwy 281 and walking the rest of the way into Bartlett.

After receiving encouragement from her parents, from WCHS School Superintendent Gleason, and others, including her uncle, Dr. Ralph E. Olson, professor of Geography at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK, Cherie was eager to go on to college. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, NE and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work in 1958. She worked summer jobs in Michigan and New York City. After graduation she worked for a time at the University of Omaha Hospital in Omaha, NE as a Clinical Social Worker and was encouraged to seek an advanced degree. Cherie received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, in the early 1960’s. She worked as a Psychiatric Social Worker at Kaiser-Permanente in California, and later at Columbia University Children’s Hospital in New York City. Later she worked at Catholic Family Services in Paterson, NJ.

In 1963 Cherie married Manuel Balcazar, originally from the country of Peru in South America. They resided in California for some years and later moved to Fort Lee, NJ. A son, Jason Balcazar, was born to them in April 1968. Jason grew to adulthood in California, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of California at Berkeley in 1992. He presently resides in San Francisco, CA.

Cherie and Manuel divorced in 1979. Manuel returned to Peru and lived there for the rest of his life. Cherie continued to live in California where she met Francis Fielding, a native of New Zealand. Cherie and Francis were married in New Zealand in 1997 and lived in Keri-Keri on the North Island of New Zealand until Francis died in June 2019.

Cherie moved back to the United States in April 2024 and resided in New Jersey until the time of her death.

Cherie is survived by her son, Jason Balcazar; her sister, Roma Oster; her brother-in-law, Paul Oster; her sister-in-law, Nancy Olson; and nieces and nephews, Lance Olson, Wesley Olson, Jacqueline Olson Reditt, Maria Olson, Julie Olson, Gina Olson, Victoria Olson as well as some more distant family members. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Katherine Olson; her brother, Kenton A. Olson; her sister, Marlene M. Olson; and her niece, Maria Katherine Olson.

Graveside Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the Bartlett Cemetery in Bartlett, Nebraska.