Jean Olson

Jean Audrey Olson was born in Nebraska on August 16, 1931 to Walter and Alma Bartels. She was the youngest of four girls, the surprise baby, born 9 years younger than her next sibling. Jean was raised on the farm until her early teenage years when she went to live in town with her older sister Margery. She graduated high school at 16 and moved to Lincoln, NE where she took a job at a professional office. There she met the love of her life, Jim. He swept her off of her feet with an airplane ride over the countryside. They were married on May 31, 1953. In 1955, shortly after their first son was born, they moved to Billings where they raised their family of 6 children. Jean's early years of growing up on a farm during the depression made her resilient and self-sufficient. Mom loved her garden, growing heaps of apples, tomatoes, peppers and beans. Her favorite time was the fall harvest when family would gather in her large kitchen to make salsa, apple pies and apple sauce which she generously shared with family and friends. She was an avid seamstress and voracious reader. Jean played in many bridge clubs over the years where she met very special and long-time friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, her parents and 3 sisters Lois, Margery, and Marion. Jean is survived by her 6 children and their families: Jack (Carleen) Olson; with Traci (Jason and Adalyn) Moran, Trisha (Ryan, Sawyer& Carson) Phillips and; Jessica (Joesph, Maelin and Lachlan) Orrico; Kim (Don) Olsen; with Cliff Olsen and Sarah (Marco) Rosales; Hal (Mary) Olson; with James (Sam) Olson, Janiel Olson; Brian (Lisa) Olson; with Hannah (Derick, Aiden and Elijah) Williamson and Adam Olson; Andi (Jeff) Pearce; with Jamie (Aaron) Norby and Syd Pearce; Nora (Ron) Johnson; with Ashlyn (Shawn and Titus) Mehdipour and Derek Johnson. And of course her long time neighbors and very good friends, Ralph and Cemi Studer and all of their families. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 pm Monday, September 28 at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Memorial Services will be 10:00 am Tuesday, September 29 at Dahl Funeral Chapel.