JoAnn Olson went to be with her Savior on November 1, 2021. She was born on November 21, 1929 to Raleigh and Dorothy Monroe of Bridgeport, Washington. The middle of seven children, JoAnn loved her huge family of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, in-laws, cousins, many nieces and nephews, and special family member Frances. She often shared stories of their countless antics in their little home town.
In 1947 she graduated from Okanogan High School, and then in 1951 she received a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics/ Elementary Education from Seattle Pacific College where she also showed her love of sports through cheerleading. JoAnn and Paul Olson met on a blind date and were married in 1952. After enjoying 64 years of milkshakes, church fellowship, gardening and family life, Paul went before her to be with the Lord.
JoAnn taught first and second grade in Edmonds School District for 8 years and was named teacher of the year. She loved singing in choirs, quartets and trios, and thought everyone should have a song book in their car; a tradition she learned from her father and which she passed on to her daughters as she taught them to sing in harmony during their long trips to Eastern Washington.
JoAnn and Paul attended Seattle Swedish Covenant Church, Bethany Baptist in Kenmore and Alderwood Community Church. She was active in Bible Study Fellowship for many years. She felt blessed by lifelong friendships with special people. JoAnn was the loving mother of two daughters, Julie Ann (Mats) Karlsson of Sweden and Sue Ellen (Ken) Beebe of Indiana. She was thrilled to be Mormor (grandmother) to her four granddaughters: Karin (Chris) Best of Maryland, Sarah (Jacob) deVries of Sweden, Lauren Beebe (Andrew Barnett) of Texas and Emily Beebe of Indiana. She was also Gammel (great) Mormor to Stella and Vera deVries of Sweden and Noah Best of Maryland. JoAnn and Paul spent 64 years in the same house in Kenmore, WA, where they enjoyed wonderful neighbors. She spent the last 5 1⁄2 years in the home of her daughter Sue and family in Carmel, Indiana.
JoAnn’s favorite things included working in her beautiful yard, being a mother, Mormor and Gammel Mormor, caring for her own mother who lived with them for ten years, entertaining in her home, singing, and watching the Seattle Mariners – but most of all she had a passion for the Bible, missions and the fellowship of other Christians. JoAnn is survived by her immediate family, brothers Don (Billie) Monroe and John Monroe, and sister-in-law Betty Jo Monroe.
“…What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, and I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace, when He takes me by the hand and leads me through the Promised Land, what a day, glorious day that will be!” song by Jim Hill.
