JoEllen Kean Olsen

JoEllen Kean Olsen was born on September 12, 1938 in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Frank Kean and Ada Mae Gerdes. She spent most of her childhood with her brother James between Southern California and Kansas. 

In 1961 she met Jimmie Dee Olsen at the Woolworths store in Bakersfield, CA where she worked at the counter and he worked on getting a date. After lots of persistence on his part, she finally said yes to his many proposals and they were married on November 10, 1962 in Las Vegas. They were later sealed in the Los Angeles temple on December 7, 1968. In 1969, Jim convinced her to move to Idaho because he told her it was God’s country. 

JoEllen was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where she served in many callings. But her true passion was genealogy work where she gave countless hours. 

In her early years she was an avid quilter and later turned to cross stitch. Her grandkids play a guessing game about how many stitches grandma has made. It has to be millions and millions! It was rare to catch grandma without a needle and thread in her hand. 

While she stitched, the TV was almost always turned to a sporting event. She cheered faithfully for BYU football and the Dodgers and she never missed March Madness. 

JoEllen was famously frugal. In her early years it was a necessity and in her later years it was more of a sport. Her children quickly learned if you wanted money, you were better off asking dad! 

Jim and JoEllen had 7 children, 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren (soon to be 17). 

She is survived by her brother James E. Kean and her children Ken Olsen, Julie Hill (Blake), Janet Blad, Beth Johnston (Shannon), Rebecca Severson (Jeff), Katherine Olsen and Jay Olsen. 

JoEllen passed away on November 12th with her children by her side. She is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years Jim and her son-in-law Allan Blad.

 A grave-side service will be held on December 6th at 2:00 pm at the Bellevue, Idaho Cemetery.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.