Norma Jean Marie Olson

Norma Jean Marie Stevens was born December 27th, 1931 in Fargo, ND to Volney and Olive (Smith) Stevens.  She grew up living in a log cabin in Barrie Township near Walcott, ND.

At the age of eight, her parents moved to Walcott where she graduated from high school in 1949. She attended Interstate Business College from 1949-1950.  Norma Jean worked in Fargo for the George Black Company which included the Black Company Store, Store without a name, and the Graver Hotel and coffee shop from 1950-1951.  Then she went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator until her marriage to John Leon Olson on October 19th,1951 in Fargo.  John and Norma Jean lived on the Olson farmstead rural Leonard, ND where they raised four children.

Norma Jean played the piano for Barrie Church for over 50 years.  She played for various individuals and organizations when needed.  Other activities were as a 4-H member growing up and a 4-H leader for over 20 years, serving on the Richland County Farm Bureau Women’s Board, Leonard School Music Mothers officer, Order of Eastern Star member for 56 years serving as organist, Worthy Matron, and district officer multiple times. She also enjoyed being a Watkins products representative for over 50 years.

John and Norma Jean moved to Riverview Place, Fargo, ND in the fall of 2001.  She enjoyed working in the flower beds around the apartment complex.  John passed away on December 7th, 2010.  In October of 2011, Norma Jean and daughter LeAnn went on a family heritage trip to Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania where they attended the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of the Lt. Asa Stevens Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution by 19 direct descendants of Lt. Asa Stevens (her 4th great-great-great-grandfather). He died in the Wyoming Massacre on July 3, 1778 of the Revolutionary War.  They joined the DAR shortly after returning from the heritage trip.

May 2017, she moved to Park River, ND to live in the Good Samaritan Apartments, transitioning to the nursing home in November 2018.  She passed away on Sunday, May 5th, 2024.

Norma Jean is survived by a son, Lynn Olson, Leonard, ND; daughters: LeAnn (Daniel) Vollmer, Willow City, ND; and Larissa (Kerry) Schmitz, Park River, ND; and 7 grandchildren: Sarah (Jeremy) Hjelseth, Allyson (Michael) McTavish, Fargo, ND; Nicole (Ryan) Hartl, Lincoln, ND; Rachel (Dylan) Wald, Willow City, ND; Seth (Jillissa) Vollmer, Bismarck, ND; Evan Graff, Nome, ND; and Christopher Schmitz, Park River, ND.  She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren as well as step-grandchildren and son-in-law Brian Graff,  Daughter Loralie Graff, siblings: Clinton Stevens, Doris Morgan, Donald Stevens and her parents preceded her in death.

Burial will be at the Barrie Cemetery, rural Walcott on Sunday, June 30th, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.