Carol Olson

Carol Valyne (Jeannotte) Olson, 78, of Dagmar died May 2, 2025, in Billings.

She was born on July 12, 1946, in Poplar to Ernestine and Alfred Jeannotte, the youngest of 10 children.

She spent her early years in Medicine Lake, where she attended school. In high school, she was an enthusiastic cheerleader, cheering for the Honkers and twirling her baton with joy. After graduating, she attended Eastern Montana College in Billings.

Shortly after, she moved to Seattle, Wash., and began working for the Boeing Aircraft Company. During her time in Seattle, she met and married Thomas Pitcher and, together, they had three children: Darren, Scott and Dena-Marie.

Tragically, in August 1973, Tom and his brother, Gary, were killed in a plane crash, leaving her to raise their young children alone. With immense strength, she returned to Medicine Lake in 1974, where she found solace and support from her mother and siblings.

In the subsequent years, she married Danny Olson. They later divorced. Together, they had one child, Mark, affectionately known as Marky Daniel. She found joy in bowling and cherished the memories of trips with her friends to state competitions. Although not an athlete herself, she was a fervent supporter of her friends during softball games and cherished the camaraderie they shared on the road.

As her children grew older and became the next generation of Honkers, she attended their sporting events, music concerts and particularly enjoyed the trips to basketball tournaments shared with other parents and friends.

In the early 1980s, she met Bruce “Rocky” Nyby. They were together for over 45 years. They enjoyed watching the Kansas City Chiefs games and the next episode of Dateline. Together, they traveled to attend the births of grandchildren, weddings, baptisms and holiday gatherings. She was also excited to attend sporting events and cheered hard for her grandchildren in basketball, volleyball, swimming, hockey, music and theatre.

She could make any situation fun and her laugh brought joy to any occasion. Her most cherished activity was sitting on the deck with her grandchildren, with a glass of Chateau St. Michelle Riesling in hand, listening to their tales of romance, tribulations and just plain gossip. Her trips with her children and grandchildren were especially memorable. She was able to travel abroad and to many places in the states including Hawaii.

She spent much of her adult life working at Rexall Drug in Plentywood. For over 30 years, she looked forward to the drive from Dagmar each day, sometimes getting to have a winter sleepover with one of the drug store girls.

She was an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe. She had fond memories of family gatherings in Belcourt during St. Ann’s Day celebrations, often laughing as she recounted stories involving her entertaining cousins.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Henry, Fran, Bill, Al and George; and sisters, Irene and Rena.

She is survived by her life partner, Rocky Nyby; four children, Darren, Scott, Dena- Marie and Mark; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Helen Day and Janice Hodges.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, May 9, at St Patrick Catholic Church in Medicine Lake.