Olaf was born January 9, 1942 in Vistdal, Norway to Pete and Agnes Gildnes, they immigrated to the U.S in 1947 arriving in LaConner in 1949. He passed away July 13, 2011 in Mount Vernon. Olaf started LaConner School in first grade not speaking English, returned to Norway at the age of 10 and spent a year with his grandparents on the family farm. Upon his return he fished an open skiff, at the age of 13 pulling Copper River reds and kings by hand which was the start of his commercial fishing career. He graduated LaConner high school in 1960, during his four years he was active in sports, lettering in football, baseball, basketball. In 1969 Olaf married Gayle in Skagit Valley. He fished in Prince William Sound, gillnetting, seining salmon and herring; he also seined herring in Togiak. He tendered the flats, Bering River, and the Coghill districts. He was active in the sales and hanging of gillnets and seines; he owned and operated, Viking net supply and Alaska fishermans camp. He enjoyed hunting deer, caribou, geese, ducks and pheasants. He spent numerous months with his wife and kids vacationing. He is survived by his wife, Gayle; sons, Swen and Steven; four grandchildren; his sister, Alfa; and brother, Sig; and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles in Norway. A graveside service will be held Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 11:00am at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in LaConner. A reception will follow at the family home.