Brianna Danielle Matthews

Brianna Danielle Matthews (Olson), 45, of Superior, WI, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, December 7th, 2025. She was born at Cloquet Memorial Hospital to Carrie Lynn Olson on October 26th, 1980.

Brianna was baptized and attended Sunday School at J.M. Paine Presbyterian. She was a chatty, imaginative child who sang with her grandma, fished with her gramps, and had love for every animal she met. This all continued into adulthood where she found a love of painting, music, and her Dodge Charger.

Her world changed when she had her daughter, Araia, on February 25th, 2004, and again, on March 22nd, 2024, when she was adopted by her father, Steve Anderson.

Brianna was a mother, a daughter, a sister, and an aunt who was admired and loved and will be deeply missed.

She was preceded in death by her gramps, Reynold "Bud" Olson; uncle and godfather, Chad "Big Dog" Olson; and her paternal grandparents, Ed and Marge Kavanaugh and Walt and Marlene Anderson.

Brianna is survived by her daughter, Araia Lynn Matthews; ex-husband, Dann Matthews; parents, Carrie Olson-Anderson and Steve Anderson; maternal grandmother, Lois Olson; sisters, Stephanie (Trace) Drechsler and Danielle (Ryan) Davis; brother, Jake (Amber) Anderson; aunt and godmother, Connie Olson; aunt, Rita Hughes (and her girls); uncles, Brian Olson, Rob (Teresa) Kavanaugh and family, Mike (Kathy) Anderson and family, and Kent (Kaire) Anderson; cousins, Troy (Amber) Olson and Abby (Steven) Rautio; and many nieces, nephews, and other family members.

The family would like to thank the wonderful doctors, nurses, chaplains, and other staff at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center. Specifically, the Neuro ICU nurses, Rebecca, Katie, and Arin. They would also like to thank the staff at Life Source for supporting Brianna's family through the donation process and to Brianna for making the choice to be an organ donor.

A celebration of Brianna's life will be held on Friday, December 19th, 2025, at Nelson Funeral Care (1004 Cloquet Avenue, Cloquet, MN) from 11 am to 1 pm.