Arlene J. Olsen

Arlene J. Olsen, age 93 of Grand Forks, ND passed away on Monday, December 1, 2025 at Woodside Village in Grand Forks.

Arlene Joyce Groven was born January 25, 1932, the daughter of Henry and Gunvor (Skarness) Groven at the Deaconess Hospital in Grafton, ND. She grew up on a farm and attended rural school at Mandt, ND and high school in Grafton. On March 4, 1951 Arlene married Harvey Olsen at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople, ND. During their 71 years of marriage they lived in Park River, Sharon, Edmore, Ellendale, Grand Forks, Fargo, ND and wintered in Mesa, AZ. In 2015, the couple moved to the Valley Senior Living on 42nd Complex, living in the Country Estates apartments, to be closer to family. Harvey died in May, 2022. Arlene moved to assisted living at Wheatland Terrace, in August, 2023 and then to skilled nursing in Woodside Village in December, 2024.

Arlene worked as a bookkeeper at the Sharon and Edmore elevators for her husband Harvey. After moving to Fargo she was an insurance agent for Royal Neighbors of America and worked part-time at Swanson Health Products. She also sold Park Lane Jewelry and Nu-Skin. She was an office volunteer at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fargo for 10 years.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Disabled American Vets Auxiliary and the Sons of Norway. She enjoyed curling, bowling, playing cards, crafts, music, reading and traveling. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Arlene loved to spend time with her family and was always ready to play board games and cards with the grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Arlene is survived by her daughters: Joyce Rice, Grand Forks, ND; Vicki (Lane) Bina, Lawton, ND; seven grandchildren: Desiree Bina and Deitra Bina both of Bismarck, ND; Denae (Kyle) Stern, Garden City, SD; Derissa (Dustin) LaFleur, Devils Lake, ND; Kyla (J.R.) Burgess, St. Cloud, MN; Megan (Lance) Schill, Langdon, ND; and Landon (Kristen) Rice, Edmore, ND; great grandchildren: Dentyn, Kollyns, and Wittyn Schill, Tenley, Brekken, Livianna and Zaya Burgess, Wesley Rice, Kennedy, Gentry and Brinkley Stern; Ian and Myla LaFleur; nephew, Wayne Bell of Park River, ND. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother, Calmer Groven.

Funeral services will be Friday, December 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hoople, ND. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hoople. An online guest book is available at: www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com

The service will be live streamed on the Tollefson Funeral Home Website.