Leatha Ann “Bea” Olson

Leatha Ann “Bea” Ol-

son, 80, of Bowbells, ND,

passed away in her home

during the early morning

hours of Sunday, July 26,

2020, surrounded by her

loving family.

Leatha Ann Voss was

born at the Kenmare, ND,

Hospital on October 9,

1939, to Albert and Gla-

dys Voss. Leatha was

raised and educated in

Bowbells where she began

many lifelong friendships,

especially with her sister

Gaynelle “Petie.” Even

though Petie was 11 years

older, they shared a close

bond that only grew

closer with the passing

years.

During Bea’s high

school years, she was ac-

tive in FHA, chorus, pep

band, cheerleading, year-

book, and served as

Senior class President.

She had a love for life and

a heart for people which

was evident to anyone

who met her.

Bea was known to sell

popcorn at the local thea-

tre and that is where her

love story with Duane

“Kenny” Nelson began.

Kenny came to the theatre

one night as she was

working and asked her on

a date and as Bea said, the

rest is history.

Kenny and Bea were

married on June 1, 1958,

in Bowbells where they

made their home together

for 52 years. They shared

many passions including

bowling, snowmobiling,

country music, traveling,

and entertaining people in

their home.

Over the years, Bea was

active in the Bowbells

Snowmobile Club, Mod-

die Doddies Homemakers,

American Legion Auxili-

ary, Women’s and Cou-

ples Bowling League, La-

dies Country Club, Cou-

ples Dance Group, and

served on the Bowbells

School Reunion Commit-

tees. Bea was a member of

the Bowbells United

Methodist Church where

she served as church

treasurer, co-chaired the

Women’s Serving Com-

mittee, and taught Sunday

School. Bea was well

known for her cooking

and baking and loved to

share her latest dish or

trays of Christmas baking

with those she loved.

Kenny passed away

suddenly on January 28,

2011. Bea remained in

Bowbells where another

chapter of her life would

soon begin.

Bea married Ruben F.

Olson on May 3, 2014, in

Bowbells. Together they

traveled to thrashing bees

and tractor shows enjoy-

ing life together. Even

though they married later

in life and their time to-

gether was short, Ruben

always told her that he

had waited for the best.

Ruben passed away

February 28, 2020.

Bea is survived by her

nieces and nephews, Greg

(Marcia) Durward, Lauri

(Mike) Connelly, Dennis

(Julie) Jacobson, Kathy

(Donald) Craft, Rhonda

(Tommy) Mathisen, Renae

(Joseph) Roche; Brother-

in-law, Norman (Karen)

Olson; sisters-in-law,

Agnes Frick, Alvina

(Dennis) Overton; and

numerous great- and

great-great nieces and

nephews.

Bea was preceded in

death by her parents, Al-

bert and Gladys Voss;

husbands, Kenny Nelson

and Ruben Olson; sister

and brother-in-law, Gay-

nelle and Charles Dur-

ward; sisters-in-law and

brothers-in-law, Kenneth

and Beverly Jacobson,

LaVerna and Johnny

Hughey; niece, Gaynelle

Mee.

Bea’s Funeral Service

will be held at 11:00 AM

on Friday, July 31, 2020,

at the Bowbells United

Methodist Church in

Bowbells, ND. Pastor

Veronica Fleming will of-

ficiate. Interment will

be held at the Bowbells

Cemetery. Visitation

will be held at the Church

on Thursday, July 30,

2020, from 3:00 PM to

7:00 PM and Friday, July

31, 2020, one hour prior

to the service.

The service will be

broadcast, please follow

the link on Bea’s service

information on our web-

site www.springan

stevenson.com.

Due to COVID 19, we

ask that everyone adheres

to local and state require-

ments for social distanc-

ing.