Jean Ann Odegard

Jean Ann Odegard, 80, of Underwood, Minnesota, passed away Monday, November 17, 2025, at Pioneer Care Center in Fergus Falls, MN. Her funeral is planned for 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Sverdrup Lutheran Church in Underwood, MN. There will be a visitation one hour prior. Jean Ann's children ask that in lieu of flowers or family memorials, please make donations to the Fergus Falls Veterans Home.

Jean Ann Clemensen was born on October 12, 1945, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Kenneth and Hazel (Amundson) Clemensen. She grew up in Ashby, graduated from Ashby High School, and attended Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis.

On February 12, 1966, Jean Ann married Richard Odegard at Pelican Lake Lutheran Church in Ashby. They made their home in Coon Rapids, MN, where Jean Ann worked for Augsburg Publishing. The couple was blessed with three children: Brad, Bryan, and Scott. In 1971, Jean Ann and Richard purchased the Underwood grocery store and moved back to the area. They would have the grocery store for the next 16 years. After selling the grocery store, Jean Ann joined Kmart, where she spent more than 25 years serving customers before retiring.

Jean Ann was a woman of quiet but unwavering faith who expressed her love for others through the work of her hands. She was a gifted seamstress, quilter, and crafter who could take even the simplest piece of fabric and turn it into something beautiful and useful. Her sewing reached far beyond her own home: she created blankets, clothing, food bags, quilts, and comfort items for children in Haiti, local hospitals, nonprofits, and the residents of the Fergus Falls Veterans Home. Boxes of her handiwork were packed and shipped overseas, which brought comfort to thousands of people. Her independence was just as much a part of her character. She loved getting in the car to visit friends, run errands, or drive others to appointments simply because she enjoyed helping and valued being able to show up for people. Even while living at the Pioneer Care Center, she continued finding ways to give by making greeting cards to brighten someone’s day. And in quieter moments, when she set her needle and thread aside, Jean Ann found joy in reading and working on puzzles, simple pleasures that reflected a life spent offering warmth, comfort, and generosity to others.

Jean Ann is survived by her sons, Brad (Deb) Odegard, Bryan (Pam) Odegard; grandchildren, Kelsey (Matthew) Port, Erica Odegard (Fiancé Brandon Matthews), Jessica (Devin) Hammer, Ariana (Brett) Byriel, Bretta (Chris) Surprenant, JoDee Odegard (Fiancé Issaiah Smith), Kassidy Odegard (partner Zach Carlson), Dakota Oksness, great-grandchildren, Henry, Haylee, Mason, Easton, Brynn, Liv, Jack, Braysen, Kinsley, Jaxson, Waylon, Ayms, and Abel; sister, Helen Robertson; brother, Richard (Norma) Clemensen; daughter-in-law, Jen Odegard; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard; son, Scott; granddaughter, Skylah Oksness; siblings, James, Robert, and Lois; and brother-in-law, Donavin Robertson.