September 12, 1938 — November 12, 2025 (age 87)

JoEllen Kean Olsen was born on September 12, 1938 in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Frank Kean and Ada Mae Gerdes. She spent most of her childhood with her brother James between Southern California and Kansas.

In 1961 she met Jimmie Dee Olsen at the Woolworths store in Bakersfield, CA where she worked at the counter and he worked on getting a date. After lots of persistence on his part, she finally said yes to his many proposals and they were married on November 10, 1962 in Las Vegas. They were later sealed in the Los Angeles temple on December 7, 1968. In 1969, Jim convinced her to move to Idaho because he told her it was God’s country.

JoEllen was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where she served in many calli

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