JoAnn Olson

1935 - 2025

JoAnn Olson
September 11, 1935 - February 8, 2025
Jo Ann Olson, 89, a long-time resident of Williston, passed away on February 8th, 2025, surrounded by her family.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 6th, 2025 at 11 a.m., at the Faith Methodist Church in Williston, with Rev. Ross Reinhiller Officiating the service.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 5th, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the Everson Coughlin Funeral Home in Williston. You are welcome to sign the guest book and leave condolences for the family of JoAnn Olson.
JoAnn Larson was born September 11, 1935, at Deaconess Hospital, Havre, Montana. Her parents were Harlin and Cora Larson. JoAnn grew up in Havre attending all 12 years of school in Havre. She graduated from Havre High School in l953 and attended 4 Quarters of college at Northern Montana College. When she was 18, she went with Mrs. F.A. Buttrey as her companion and driver to Detroit to pick up a new car. They spent the winter between Austin, Texas, Phoenix Arizona and San Diego, California. JoAnn attended one semester of college at Phoenix Jr. College. After this year, she attended Northern Colorado College of Education at Greeley, Colorado. Upon graduation from college, JoAnn and Jerome Olson were married June 16, 1957, in Havre. At the end of the summer, they moved to Dallas, Texas where Jerry attended Medical School and JoAnn taught school at Farmer's Branch Grade School. They next moved to Seattle, Washington where Jerry continued his studies in surgery and JoAnn taught first grade. Son Paul was born in Seattle and then they moved to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri as Jerry was then in the Army as a physician. Son Mark was born there. After completing the stint in the Army, the couple and their two sons moved to Williston, North Dakota where they made their home. Daughters Amy and Jenny were born in Williston at the Good Samaritan Hospital.
JoAnn was active as a member of First Lutheran church. She taught Sunday school, studied the Bethel Bible Series, sang in the choir, attended the circle meetings, and WELCA. As a volunteer, she helped with music in the kindergarten at the church and was chairperson of the fourth and fifth grade Sunday school. She worked with a dear friend as co-chair of the Lutefisk dinner. As a member of the community, she was a chairman for the United Way Drive, President of the American Association of University Women, President of the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, President of P.E.O. Chapter AN, membership chairman of the community Concert Association, and a State board member of Prairie Public Radio and TV. Always interested in her children's activities, JoAnn coached two groups of Campfire Girls, and one group of Cub Scouts. She served as treasurer for the Campfire Council, and as Vice President of the Rickard PTO.
In later years, JoAnn knitted caps for the Mercy Hospital nursery making as many as 650 a year, as well as 65 layette sweaters for Lutheran World Relief. JoAnn loved to sew and embroider Hardanger pieces to give to others and family members. Jerry and JoAnn loved to camp and visited many of the state parks and historical sites in ND. They camped in all the states west of the Mississippi River and other parts of Canada and Eastern U.S. The teacher in JoAnn gave her an interest in making up programs on topics that interested her. Her most popular program was on "Grandmother's Apron" which she gave all around the area at least 14 different times. She presented programs to school children on ND birds, as birding was a hobby.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 57 years, M. Jerome Olson; her mother-in-law, Emily Olson; her sister, Judith Larson; her Aunts and Uncles; a baby son, Richard Allan; two infant grandchildren, Malachi and Elise. She is survived by son, Paul (LaVonne) Olson, son Mark (Cynthia) Olson, daughter Amy (Joel) Wilt, daughter Jenny (Christopher) Dufault; grandchildren, Eric, Emily, Michelle, Joshua, Micah, McKenzie, Amanda, Scott, Katherine, Abigail, Nicholas, Jacob, Jaron, and Corey and a baker's dozen of great-grandchildren.
The Everson Coughlin Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Williston is in care of arrangements.