Janice "Jan" Lea Olson

Janice "Jan" Olson passed away Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at Ecumen in North Branch at the age of 81.

Janice Lea Tibbetts was born on December 2, 1942 to Alvah (Ted) Evelyn (Sauer) Tibbetts in Minerva Township,
Minnesota.

Jan graduated from Bagley High School in 1960 and, soon after, traveled to Rush City to work with her cousin, Beverly Tibbetts at the Coffee Cup on Highway 61 in Rush City. It was at the Coffee Cup that she met her husband of 58 years, Ronnie Olson of Rock Creek. On February 4, 1961, Jan and Ron were married at the First Lutheran Church in Rush City.

Jan attended Oliver Thein Beauty School in St. Paul, riding the bus each day from Rush City to attend classes. She owned and operated Jan’s Beauty Salon in Rock Creek. She finished her career working in the healthcare sector as a hospital dietetic supervisor and then retired from Mayo Clinic as a desk attendant.

Jan was an artist at heart. In high school, she was Vice President of the Art Club and in her adult life, she explored and mastered many types of art including flower gardening and flower arranging, decorating, ceramics, crocheting, woodworking, quilting and paper quilling. She had a gift for seeing something, making a pattern or drawing a design, and bringing it to life. She also made costumes and put together Christmas plays for the Olson Family Christmas gatherings at the Rock Creek Townhall. Jan also enjoyed playing her Lowry organ and, during her retirement, learned to play the upright bass.  When living in Rock Creek, she was a member of the Rock Creek Homemakers.

After living full time in their motorhome for 20 years during their retirement, Jan’s health declined and in May 2016, she came home to Minnesota and was welcomed as a resident at Ecumen in North Branch. The staff at Ecumen were a blessing to Jan and the family is truly grateful for the excellent care and love they provided during her long journey with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Jan is survived by her 3 children and their families: Sue (Chuck) Losinski and son, Tyler Losinski; daughter Sandie Osterhus (fiancé Chad Foos) and son Dylan Osterhus and grandson, Jaxon Osterhus; son Steve (Gwyn) Olson and daughters Jade Mikkelson and Alie Mikkelson and grandsons Noah and Lincoln Brenneman; sisters Lois (Myron) Larson of East Grand Forks, MN and Becky Schlegel of Savage; 35 nieces and nephews; sister-in-law Kathy Tibbetts of Hawley.

She was preceded in death by her parents Alvah “Ted” and Evelyn Tibbetts; husband Ronnie Olson; brother Ivan (Lorraine) Tibbetts; sister Laurel (Joe) Newsome; brother Rodney Tibbetts; brother David (Susie) Tibbetts; brother John Tibbetts; father-in-law and mother-in-law William and Jennie Olson; brothers-in-law Dale Olson, Kenny Olson, Harold Olson, Charles Olson, Clifford Olson; sister-in-law LaDez Pangerl.

Funeral services for Jan: 11 AM; Saturday, May 4, 2024, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rush City with one hour of visitation for family and friends prior to the service. This will be followed by a luncheon at the church and interment at Rock Creek Cemetery.

Arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Chapel
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com