Jean Marie (Olson) Jackie was born September 2, 1922, in the Plainsview district, to Lewis and Anna Olson (Naseth). She died peacefully February 26, 2018, at St. Paul Lutheran Home, Melville, at the age of 95 years. This is truly the end of an era for the Jackies and the Olsons.

Jean attended Success School in the Plainsview district as a child and learned to dance at an early age. The neighbours took turns hosting weekly dances at each other’s homes, and Jean learned by example. Her love of dancing carried right through her twilight years, as she danced with her walker (and later in her wheelchair) at St. Paul Lutheran Home. Jean also had a fondness for animals, and at age seven or eight, she looked after an orphaned baby bear, which was later sent to the Winnipeg Zoo. She spoke of “her pet” fondly throughout her life.

Jean married and raised five children but still found time to knit, crochet, quilt, sew and upholster. She also enjoyed playing bingo, shuffleboard and becoming a “card shark”. She worked at St. Paul Lutheran Home for many years, first in the kitchen, then in the laundry. That is why, when she became a resident there, she said she felt right at home.

Life was not easy for Jean, but she never let it affect her. She saw the best in everyone and had oceans of patience. She affected change for the mentally handicapped with her tireless efforts for improvements for her own handicapped son.

Jean loved to travel, taking bus tours to Las Vegas, Mexico, the Maritimes and Alaska, as well as trips to the Minot festival with friends. Her love of travelling continued on a smaller scale in St. Paul, as she walked the halls day and night.

Jean was also proud of her Norwegian heritage. She loved to travel with her buddies to the Minot Norwegian Heritage Festival and to cook traditional Norwegian foods for her family, along with reciting Norwegian poems and listening to Norwegian music. She will be best remembered for her sweetness and sense of humour and getting away with playing pranks on her family and friends.

Jean was predeceased by her parents Lewis and Anna Olson, all of her siblings, her sons Bob and Dale and her daughter Joan Olijnyk. She will live on in the hearts of her children, Elwyn “Butch” Jackie (Cindy Cole); Candy (Vern) Schick; granddaughter Lori Olijnyk; grandson Willie (Melonie) Olijnyk; and three great-grandchildren Sophie, Max and Sam.