Lois Olson

Lois Jean Olson, 84,

lifelong Minot resident,

died Thursday, February

20, 2020 in the Garrison

Benedictine Living

Center.

Lois was born De-

cember 21, 1935 in Minot,

North Dakota, the

daughter of Earl and Fern

(Nowlan) Fossum. She

was raised and educated

in Minot and graduated

from Minot High School

in 1954. During her

younger years, she was

employed as a telephone

operator for Northwest

Bell Telephone.

Lois was united in mar-

riage to Robert M. “Bob”

Olson on October 23,

1955. They made their

home in Minot

throughout the years,

where along with raising

their two daughters, she

was employed as a secre-

tary at First Presbyterian

Church in Minot for

several years and more re-

cently with the Ward

County District Court as a

clerk from 1983-2001.

Lois and Bob shared a

beautiful life of devotion

to one another. Lois was a

devoted wife, mother, and

grandmother. She joyfully

shared her gift of hospital-ity through entertaining

family and friends as a

delicious cook and baker.

Lois was cared for by Bob

at home until she entered

Maple View Memory Care

in Minot in July 2017.

Lois had been a resident

of the Garrison Benedic-

tine Living Center since

July of 2018, where she

received wonderful care

from the staff.

Lois and Bob were long-

time members of the

Congregational United

Church of Christ, Minot,

where she served as

Chairperson of the

Women’s Fellowship in

2006. She volunteered for

Trinity Hospital in the

surgical waiting area, was

a member of the PEO

Chapter R, and did

volunteer work at the

Norsk Hostfest. She and

Bob were avid square

dancers with the Magic

City Squares and Hustlers

Square Dancing groups.

They especially enjoyed

their trips to Norway.

Her Loving family in-

cludes: husband of 64

years, Bob Olson, Minot;

daughter, Barb (Lynn)

Hopewell, Jamestown,

ND, son in law, Havelock

John “Skip” Purseglove,

Plainfield, MA; 4

grandchildren to include:

Sabre (Lewis) Herzig, J.

(Suzanne) Purseglove,

Isaac Purseglove and

Sarah Hopewell; 2 great

grandchildren, Alice and

Hayden Herzig; a faithful

supportive sister and

brother in law, Carol (Jim)

Picard, Minot; brother,

Lyle (Margo) Fossum,

Queen Creek, AZ, a sister

in law, Evelyn Fossum,

Richfield, MN, and many

dearly loved nieces &

nephews.

Lois was preceded in

death by her parents,

daughter, Debbie and

brothers, Ronald & Robert

Fossum and a sister, Betty

Lou Fossum.

Celebration of Life ser-

vice: Friday, February 28,

2020 at 11:00 a.m. in the

Congregational United

Church of Christ, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill

Memorial Park, Minot.

Visitation: Thursday,

February 27th from

3:00-6:00 p.m. in Thomas

Family Funeral Home,

Minot.

Memorials are preferred

to the Congregational

Church.

Memories and con-

dolences can be shared at

www.thomasfamilyfunera

lhome.com.