James Olson

Minot

James H. Olson, 75, Minot, of Powers Lake, died Sunday, February 2, 2025, in a Minot hospital.

James Harold Olson was born on September 22, 1949, to parents Clifford and Caroline (Hendrickson) Olson in Powers Lake, North Dakota. He was raised and educated in Powers Lake, graduating from Powers Lake High School in 1967.

Following high school, Jim spent two years at Jamestown College and then graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1971 with his undergraduate degree. He continued in the medical program at UND, ultimately earning a Doctoral Degree in Medicine in 1976. He married Mary Piper shortly after graduating.

Jim began his career in medicine serving in an internship at the University of Kansas. He then spent two years of required military service practicing in the Indian Health Service at Cass Lake and Red Lake, Minnesota. From there, he completed an Ophthalmology residency at the University of Minnesota and began his first practice at Billings Clinic from 1983 -1990. During this time, Jim and Mary welcomed three daughters, Laura, Kate, and Anna into their family. In late 1990 Jim and his family moved to Williston, where he practiced at the Williston Basin Eye Clinic, later known as Trinity Regional Eyecare Western Dakota, until retiring in 2009.

Upon retiring, Jim and Mary returned to the family farm in Powers Lake, a place very near and dear to his heart. In his free time, Jim enjoyed woodworking, caring for his mules and horses, and training his golden retrievers to hunt. Jim loved to read anything about western history, and his favorite places to travel were the mountains in Montana and the lakes of Minnesota. Jim and Mary also enjoyed visiting Germany and Australia where they had daughters living.

Jim regularly attended Holy Cross Church in Powers Lake. He will be remembered most as being someone everyone loved to be around, and a loving husband and father. His calmness and patience and ability to always put others first will be greatly missed.

Jim’s loving family includes: his wife, Mary Olson; daughters, Laura (Carlos) Batista De Oliveira, Kate (Joseph) Olson, and Anna (Jay) Ivey; brother, Thomas (Sandy) Olson; sister, Nancy (Chris) Montgomery; grandchildren, Annabelle Hellmuth, Harold Hellmuth, Hattie Scheithauer Olson, Rosie Scheithauer Olson, Ford Ivey, and Piper Ivey; brother-in law, Paul (Jeanne) Piper; sisters -in-law, Barbara (Robert) Quamme, and Jean (Bryan)Burton, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Caroline Olson.

A celebration of Jim’s life will take place on Saturday February 15, 2025, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Powers Lake, starting at 1:00 p.m., with a livestream of the service available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@powerslakeholycross4738/streams .

A visitation will be held on Friday, February 14, 2025 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Taube Art Center, Minot. A burial will take place at a later date in the spring, at CottonWood Cemetery in Powers Lake.

Published by The Minot Daily News, February 11, 2025.