Dancing with the Geneva Stars: Meet Steve and Beth Olson

• Editor's note: The official, online voting for Dancing with the Geneva Stars begins Jan. 3. Be sure to vote often, because your votes raise funds and help determine the winning dance team! In the meantime, you can get familiar with the couples by reading this series of profiles and warm up by voting in our unofficial Geneva Patch poll.

and Olson have been married for 27 years and are both very involved in the Geneva community.

They met when Steve was a firefighter and Beth was a Beacon-News reporter assigned to cover Geneva, including the Fire Department. Eventually, for the sake of ethical reporting, she was transferred to the Aurora office. Keep in mind, Beth writes under her maiden name of Beth Bales, so for those who want to put a face to a name, Beth Olson is the Beth Bales of the news world.

Steve continues to work as a fire chief for the and Beth,
is a communications specialist for Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, a marketing coordinator for a Palatine attorney and a for Geneva Patch.

In her free time, Beth likes to read, see movies and keep up with politics, and Steve enjoys going to movies, bike riding and skiing. Both Beth and Steve have extensively served the Geneva community, as well. Beth was a member of PTO, she is a former member of GAF, she is an active volunteer for the schools and she is a member of the new for 

Steve is also a member of Geneva Theatre Boosters and volunteers in local
community theatre groups.

The Olsons have three girls: Emma, Torie and Anne. Emma is 23 and works as an actor and waitress in Chicago awaiting her big break, Torie is a 21-year-old senior at Marquette University, majoring in finance and accounting and Anne is 18 and is a freshman at  majoring in acting. The Olsons have three cats at home, too.

Steve is a native of Geneva and Beth has been in Geneva for the , though she has been associated with Geneva since 1978 when she was assigned to cover it for the Beacon-News.

Steve has remained in Geneva for his entire life because after he became a paid-on-call volunteer with the Geneva Fire Department, he loved it and made it his career. Beth worked in town as well, fell in love with it, and of course, with Steve, though not necessarily in that order.

They enjoy going to the , the , Fire
Station No. 1, and the walking trail at . Their favorite part about living in Geneva is that, “It’s simply home. You nearly always see someone you know … the sense of community is wonderful,” Beth said.

The Olsons took dance lessons with Edith Gibson many years ago, but apparently the lessons were not very successful. Steve enjoys listening to Arcade Fire and the Rolling Stones and Beth prefers easy-listening music, including Barry Manilow and the '70s Live!

When asked to participate in this event, Beth agreed that it would be a fun challenge, though for Steve, it took much persuasive effort. The couple attended and had a wonderful time.

This profile is courtesy of the Dancing With the Geneva Stars committee. The benefit helps the  and the . The 2012 competition will be held Feb. 4 at .