Joan Elsie Olson was born on October 22, 1956, in Libby, MT to Edgar and Louise Thronson. She attended Libby schools and graduated in 1975. She married Ben Stevens in 1978 and they had two children, Adam in 1979 and Bonny in 1982. She moved to Sidney, MT in 1979.

Joan worked a number of places including the Yellowstone Merc, McDonalds, South 40, and Sidney Health Center. While working at the South 40 she did a variety of jobs. She cooked, waitressed, and tended bar. She loved the people she got to interact with, and her co-workers loved her. While working at the 40 she met the love of her life, Mitch Olson, and they married on the 31st of December 1994. In 1995, Joan gave birth to Mitchell.

After leaving the South 40, she started work at Sidney Health Center. She began in Admissions and eventually moved over to work as the receptionist for Dr. Pete Council. She loved her job there and the people she worked with.

Joan had a passion for quilting and her fur family of Sophie, Winston, and Elsie. She created many magnificent quilts and gave them to family and loved ones – her way of showing her love to others. Not only did Joan love quilting, but she loved adventure. She was always traveling here and there with family – seeing the world and making memories was something she lived for. She was incredibly proud of her husband and her children, and excited to share any good news that was going on in their lives. Her fiery personality will be missed by all who knew her.
Joan passed away on April 30, 2023 at the Sidney Health Center in Sidney, MT after a short battle with cancer.

She is survived by her loving husband, Mitch; her daughter, Bonny; sons, Adam and Mitchell; two sisters, Gayle Pales (Ron) of Missoula and Renee Neisess (Joe) of Libby; her beloved dogs; special friends Bob and Dee Gilbert and Joyce Dey; and special niece Abby Forseth.

She was preceded in death by her father, Edgar; her mother, Louise; and a sister, Sue.