Sharon Joy Fenner

Sharon Joy Olsen Fenner

March 20, 1935 - October 22, 2025

90 years, 7 months, 2 days

I'm standing at the top of a downhill run on Bald Mountain, enjoying a crisp Idaho bluebird day, 20 degrees with no wind, after an evening snow shower that left a beautiful powder on the slopes. I'm wearing one of the joyfully patterned wool ski sweaters and hats that my mother knit especially for me, with extra length in the arms and a pom-pom dangling from the end of the hat. My wool under-mittens are covered with the leather outers, and I grip my poles tightly with them.

My body feels the way it did long ago; before children, before the back surgeries, before the onset of arthritis, before cognitive decline. I anticipate the wind in my hair and want to feel it flowing behind me so I put my hat in my pocket. My ancestors are encouraging me to ski as fast as I can, like the true Viking daughter of Norway that I am.

I'm all alone up here, but there are many people at the base waiting for me to complete my last run of the day. They're the ones who have already skied this course and have instead chosen to put their feet up today. They are all together, all of those that I have loved and who've gone before me, sitting by the lodge's warm fire with hot chocolates and toddies, ready to toast me when I come in.

Laura's voice rises above all the others calling to me from below, an angelic "Mommy, Mommy!" So I push off.

Sharon Joy Olsen was born in Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota on a cold winter's day as a rainbow baby to Bernard & Friendly Olsen and was raised there as a proud descendant of some of Minnesota's earliest pioneers from Sweden, Prussia, and Norway. Educated in public schools, she graduated from the Thomas Edison High School as Salutatorian. She received a scholarship to attend the University of Minnesota, the first in her family to attend college. While at the U, she became the first woman Business Manager of "The Minnesota Daily", which was at the time, the largest student run daily newspaper in the nation, worked as a lifeguard, was an enthusiastic member of the Gopher Ski Club, and graduated near the top of her class.

Unable to secure job interviews as many other far less-qualified male business majors did, Sharon, on a whim, applied to become a TWA Air Hostess. Hostessing during the pinnacle of American air travel, she flew, from her LAX base, mainly to SFO, MDW, ORD, IDL (JFK), and LGA. Through her job she met dozens of notable people, and with her freshly pressed uniform and winning smile, was able to get into just about any room. Not surprisingly, she and her hostess roommate were photographed as the background study for Frank Sinatra's "Come Fly with Me" album cover art.

Tom Fenner was smitten the moment he saw her, declaring her the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. They married and made their LA home in Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Camarillo, and Brentwood, CA. In 1970 they packed up a U-Haul and moved to Tom's hometown of Washington, Missouri, for the remainder of their married lives.

Sharon was a student and educator at heart. With unrelenting patience, she taught her developmentally disabled daughter, Laura, to read and write, taught Kindergarten at the Emmanuel Lutheran School, and was a Girl Scout leader. Probably the most apt way to describe Sharon was that she was an extremely curious knowledge seeker, especially through books, travel, and culture. Sharon reveled in learning and sharing new things, with the possible exceptions of computers and smart phones. Genealogy was a particular fascination of hers, marrying her love of family and history. Musically talented, Sharon sang alto and recorded with the Los Angeles Woodlandiers, and played her favorite Grieg and Chopin on piano.

Sharon was a long-time and faithful member of the Presbyterian Church of Washington, the Washington Library Board, the P.E.O. Sisterhood, the Presbyterian Church Craft Guild, Washington Embroidery Club, Civic Chorus, and Historic Society. In 1986, she and Tom worked very hard to achieve passage for funding of disability resources under SB40.

After Laura's death in 2023, Sharon moved to NC to become a "Carolina Girl" and to be near Chris, Mark, Jack, and Lauren. She enjoyed many beautiful days under the Carolina blue skies, and never failed to express her amazement at how tall the trees grew there. She spent one of her last days on earth enjoying Jack and Lauren's wedding reception at Locust Hill.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Friendly Olsen of Minneapolis, MN, and her beloveds, Thomas E. Fenner and daughter Laura G. Fenner, both of Washington, Missouri. She is survived by her daughter Christine G. (Fenner) Perisich and husband Mark of Raleigh, NC, grandson Jack G. F. Perisich and wife Lauren E. Burke of Garner, NC, grandson Nicholas G. F. Perisich and partner Madeline R. Pitcock of Madison, WI, sister Pamela J. Evangelist and nephew Nicholas P. Evangelist of Minneapolis, MN, niece Joy M. Irwin and husband Eric of Orange City, FL, and many cousins and dear friends.

A memorial service will be held for Sharon in Washington, Missouri in January 2026.

Financial memorials to honor Sharon's memory may be made to Emmaus Homes, 3731 Mueller Road, St. Charles, MO 63301, www.emmaushomes.org, Exceptional Equestrians of the Missouri Valley, 785 Yellow Finch Lane, Washington, MO 63090 www.eemv.org, or to The Presbyterian Church of Washington, 4834 South Point Road, Washington, MO 63090 www.presbywashmo.org

Please visit www.brightfunerals.com to share words of comfort to the family.

Bright Funeral Home is serving the Fenner family.