Janet Anne Olson passed away peacefully on February 27, 2026, surrounded by her family at St. Catherine’s Nursing Home in Fargo, ND. Until the end, Janet maintained her humor, kindness, appreciation for family and gratitude for her long life full of loving memories with those she cared for so deeply.
Janet and her identical twin sister, Annette, were born on August 6, 1937, to Alvin and Ellenora (Jahraus) Grosz. Jan was the eldest of three children. She was born in Eureka, SD. Later, the family moved to Herreid, SD, where they lived from fifth grade through graduation in 1955. She then attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Bismarck, ND, for three years.
Jan married James T. Olson in 1958, and they were blessed with five children. They lived in Highmore, SD, where Jan worked with the public health nurse for one year. She then worked at the Highmore nursing home for 15 years. The family later moved to Circle, MT, where Jan worked at the nursing home before relocating to Halstad, MN. She worked at the Halstad nursing home for a while before taking a break from nursing. During that break she drove beet truck for three seasons and served as a nurse for the Halstad migrant program. She eventually began working at the hospital in Crookston, MN. She stayed there for 15 years, ending her nursing career working in the OB nursery. After she retired, she moved to the family lake home on Tulaby Lake near Waubun, MN. Jim & Jan lived there until 2000, before making Fargo their home.
Jan was most recently active at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in Fargo, participating in choir and Ladies Aide. She loved crocheting and made many blankets for her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed word search puzzles, crosswords, reading and playing games, especially cards. Most of all, Jan cherished time spent with her family – whether it was boating at the lake, board games or chatting over coffee. Family truly filled her cup.
Jan was preceded in death by her parents, husband James Olson; one brother, William Grosz; and twin sister, Annette Wiest. She is survived by her five children, Kathy (James) Rogge, Moorhead, MN, Susan Thomas, Fargo, ND, Jeffrey (Kathleen) Olson, Wahpeton, ND, David (Wendy) Olson, Omaha, NE, Charlotte Olson (Shannon Maker), Frazee, MN; 11 grandchildren; eight great -grandchildren; and one brother, Michael Grosz, Biscayne Bay, FL.
The family would like to thank the loving staff at St. Catherine’s North and HIA Hospice for their compassionate care of Janet.
Memorial contributions can be directed to the Roger Maris Cancer Center by visiting www.sanfordhealthfoundation.org or HIA Hospice at: www.hiagift.org.
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