Joy Olson

February 5, 2019

Joy Arlene (Peterson) Olson was born on December 17th, 1952, in Granite Falls, Minnesota, the daughter of Gerhard and Arlene (Skjefte) Peterson. She was baptized and confirmed at Maynard Lutheran Church and graduated from Maynard High School. While in high school, she was named Miss Betty Crocker for her superior baking and cooking talent. She then attended the University of Minnesota in Morris, Minnesota for a brief time. On November 29th, 1980, Joy was united in marriage to Rodney Olson in Maynard Lutheran Church. Prior to marriage, Joy was employed at the VSC Store in Clara City, Minnesota. Rod and Joy made their home just outside of Milan, Minnesota and Joy worked for many years at the U.S. Post Office in Milan. Among Joy’s interests, she enjoyed baking, cooking, sewing, crocheting, knitting, gardening and spending time with her coffee group friends. She was active in Kviteseid Lutheran Church and had taught Sunday School for the fourth graders. Joy spent seven years serving on the WELCA committee. As a child, she was remembered for winning first place in local parades, riding with her cousin Jackie as one of the ‘Tony Twins’. Those close to Joy were aware of her exceptional vocabulary and grammar knowledge. She was an avid reader and once had dreams of being an editor. Her children were the most aware of this as they were raised with constant corrections to their grammar. When her children were older, they would call her to ask for the ‘word of the day’ and she would think of an obscure word to be taught. Her daughter, Amanda, still enjoys annoying her friends with grammatical corrections and will continue to do so in loving memory of her mom. Joy was called from this life in the peaceful presence of family on Tuesday, February 5th, 2019, at Luther Haven Nursing Home. She was 66 years of age. Joy has four children and five grandchildren that she loved deeply. Joy is survived by her husband, Rod, of Milan, MN; her children, Josh Olson of Montevideo, MN; Amanda (Olson) Greenwood (Derek) of Fargo, ND; and GW Olson of Moorhead, MN; her grandchildren, Chance Birman, Drake, Korbyn, and Freya Olson, Logan Greenwood; her sister, Jan (Ken) Schmidtke; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Joy is preceded in death by her eldest son, Jordan, and her parents, Gerhard and Arlene Peterson. In lieu of floral arrangements, the family respectfully requests memorial be given.