Janice A. Olson, 85 of Thief River Falls, MN passed away suddenly following heart surgery on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at Banner Heart Hospital in Apache Junction, AZ.

Janice Ann Armstrong was born to Frank and Alma (Magsam) Armstrong on November 2, 1940, at her parent’s home near Euclid, MN in Polk County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at the Presbyterian Church in Euclid, MN. The family moved to Norden Township, west of Thief River Falls where Janice attended Gopher Mound Country School and Lincoln High School where she graduated at the age of 16 with the class of 1957.

On February 21st, 1959, she married Duane Allen Olson at her parent’s home in Norden Township. Duane and Janice were proud parents of four children, Danny, Susan, Jeffrey and Steven.

After high school, Janice worked at the Union State Bank in Thief River Falls and then began her life working with Duane on the dairy farm and raising their family. Later, she went to work at the Farm Service Agency retiring in 2005. They spent the next 20 winters in Apache Junction, AZ and summers at home in Thief River Falls.

Janice was a member of Oak Ridge Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and was very active with Ladies Aid. She was also a 4-H Leader, was on the County Extension Committee, and involved with the Good Cheer Club. She loved traveling and spending time with her family.

Survived by her husband of 66 years, Duane; children, Danny (Denise) Olson of Saginaw, MN, Jeffrey (Julie) Olson and Steven (Amy) Olson both of Thief River Falls; grandchildren, Samantha (Dawn) Hjelle, Travis (friend, Lindsey) Hjelle, Cole (Ashley) Olson, Katelyn (Zach) Kramer, Hanna (fiancé, Ryan) Olson, Sydney Olson, Abbie (Collin) Brekke, Blaine Olson, Abe (Halle) Olson, Annie (friend, Brady) Olson, and Ike Olson; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Wyatt, Brya, Aria, Kastin, Beau, Liam, Aili and Bennett; sisters-in-law, Jan Armstrong, Vera Armstrong, Joyce Olson, Maxine Filpula, Janice Nelson and Gloria (Larry) Haug; son-in-law, Wayne Hjelle; many nieces, nephews, friends, the ladies of Oak Ridge, and her neighbors in Arizona.

She is preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Susan Hjelle and her son, Todd Hjelle in an automobile accident in 1987; siblings, Eva Mae Weiland, Doris Vevea, Ron Armstrong, and Don Armstrong; brothers-in-law, Edwin Lappegaard, Dake Ayers, Clarence Anderson, Lloyd Vevea, Ralph Weiland, Leland Nelson, Lloyd Olson and LaVerne Filpula; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Lappegaard.

Services will be held in the spring. Burial will be at Landstad Cemetery, Sanders Township, Pennington County, MN.