Jason Allen Olson

Billings, Mont.

Jason Allen Olson, 59, Billings, MT, passed away on July 26, 2025 after a three-year courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his family at his home.

Jason was born on February 14, 1966 at Mercy Hospital in Valley City, to Allen and Fern (Piehl) Olson. He was raised and educated in Valley City, Grand Forks, Bottineau, and Minot. He graduated from Minot High School in May 1984. He married Tori Ellen Mortenson on November 30, 1991, in Minot. They have one daughter, Bailey Morgan Olson and one granddaughter Harlee Rayne Olson.

He was employed for many years in Minot and Billings in the carpet laying and retail carpet sales business. He was also employed at Walmart in Billings for a few years. In 2011, he began his employment with Farstad Oil, a division of Parkland USA in Minot and Billings, where he was employed at the time of his death.

Jason was the first grandchild of both sets of grandparents. Jason loved spending time in Marion, which was the home of Grandpa and Grandma Piehl and on the farm of Grandpa and Grandma Olson. His fondest memories were his time spent as a child in Marion at his Grandparents home and farm with his Piehl and Olson Cousins. Jason’s Grandpa and Grandma Piehl produced rodeos (Dakota Rodeo Association) around ND, SD and MN for about 10 years.

This was the beginning of his love of horses and rodeo, especially Bull Riding. He had a love for horses and the life of a cowboy. He began riding steers at a young age with his brother, cousins and Marion friends at the Marion Rodeo Arena. As a teenager he began riding bulls in Jr. Bull Riding events at the Rough Rider Rodeos around ND. He was an avid fan of the PBR and attended the PBR National Finals in Las Vegas with his wife Tori and friends, Marna and Darris.

Besides rodeo he loved the game of hockey. He played hockey in Middle School and through his High School years. He was a fan of UND Hockey and the Pittsburgh Penguins. This past February he flew to Washington DC with his sister Melissa and brother Jarrod, toured DC and attended a Washington Capitals game and watched Alex Ovechkin score a hat trick on his Gr8 Chase to break Wayne Gretzky’s scoring record.

Jason was always a true and faithful Minnesota Vikings fan during years of success and during years that were lean. On Vikings game days he would dress in his Vikings jersey, hoist the Vikings flag outside their home and watch the game, win or lose. A highlight was a trip to Minneapolis with his friend Aaron to watch a Vikings game at First Bank Stadium, the Peoples Stadium.

Jason was a kind, gentle, and loving little boy. He grew to be a man of few words, a kind and gentle man who had many friends who loved and respected him. He loved the beautiful girls in his life, his wife Tori of 34 years, his beautiful, kind and loving daughter Bailey and the girl who would light up his life, his granddaughter Harlee Rayne.

In December 2022, Jason adopted a homeless puppy named “Petey.” Since that day, Petey has been Jason’s best friend and companion who was by his side 24 hours a day.

Jason was baptized as an infant at the North Marion Reformed Church at Marion, ND. In February 2023, Jason was again Baptized and opened his heart and life to Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Billings, MT.

Jason is survived by his wife, Tori; daughter, Bailey Morgan (Brendan Smith) Olson, Billings, MT; granddaughter, Harlee Rayne Olson all of Billings, MT. His parents Allen and Fern (Piehl) Olson, Minot; sister Melissa (Mike Dyer) Olson, Gilbert, AZ; brother, Jarrod (Missy) Olson, Minot; niece, Madeline Mae (Preston Jones) Olson, Minot; uncles and aunts: Walter Jr. (Becky) Piehl, Minot, ND; Steven (Valerie) Piehl, Newbury Park, CA; Lois Olson, Monongah, WV; Gary Wieck, Valley City; Sisters in Law, Valerie Swensrud, Watford City; Lynette (Tom) Wheeler, Ray; Brothers in Law, Wesley (Sharon) Mortenson, Centre, Alabama; Todd (Kathy) Mortenson, Tioga; numerous cousins and dear friends.

Jason was preceded in death by two sisters, Michella and Melinda Olson; grandparents, Walter Sr. & Hattie (DeVries) Piehl; Henry & Violet (Bruhn) Olson; uncle, David Gene Olson; aunt, Bonnie Gail (Olson) Wieck; mother and father-in-Law, Elgin and Jeannette (Wolla) Mortenson; brothers-in-law, Clyde Mortenson; Dale Swensrud; nephew, Garret Swensrud; great nephew, Tyler Swensrud and great great nephew Eli Garret Swensrud.

The memorial service will be arranged by The Heights Family Funeral Home, 733 W Wicks Lane, Billings, MT. A time of “Prayer and Share” will be held at The Heights Family Funeral Home at 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2025. A Celebration of Jason’s Life will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 328 S Shiloh Rd, Billings, MT, on Monday, August 4, 2025, with Pastor Paul Jones officiating. Coffee will follow the service at the church. Burial will take place at a later date.

The family would prefer memorials to the Frontier Cancer Center (1315 Golden Valley Circle, Billings, MT 59102). Jason’s family would like to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to the Cancer Center staff for the care and concern shown to him over the past three years.

Published by The Minot Daily New Aug. 1, 2025.