Judith Christine Olson, 91
Judith Christine Olson, 91, of Sandpoint, Idaho, formerly of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, made her transition on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005, in Sandpoint.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. Thursday Sept. 29, 2005, at the Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel. Burial will follow at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens in Coeur d'Alene.
Judy was born on Jan. 31, 1914, in Banks, N.D., to Anton and Mina (Karlstad) Slette. As the eldest of 11 children, she migrated with her family to Sandpoint from Wadford City, N.D., in 1922.
Judy married Ole Olson and moved to Coeur d'Alene where she made her home until 1993. Their marriage later ended.
While working her way through beauty college as a waitress at the Pend Oreille Lodge she received a tip that she has always treasured. One of the dollar bills she received from Bing Crosby was also autographed by him.
In 1947, she became a beauty operator and had a shop in her home and was in business until 1986. She could cut and style hair, both men and women, like no one else. She had customers from Canada and many far away places due to her expertise.
Judy had such a big heart and a deep love of animals that her arms were always filled with every stray dog and cat that came to her door. Her big heart also applied to people, too. Even though Judy could never have children of her own, she loved and befriended so many children of others. She helped raise her youngest sisters and treated them as her own.
She would share whatever she had and always tried to help those less fortunate than herself. She was a wonderful sister and will be loved and missed forever and always.
In 1994 Judy entered Pinewood Care Center and then moved to Life Care of Sandpoint in 2001
Judy's hobbies included a love of dancing and she often stated that "she would rather dance than eat or sleep." In addition she also loved to play the mouth organ and especially enjoyed playing her favorite song, "The Red River Valley."
Survivors include sisters Virginia Jones of Sandpoint, Ruth Rodeen of Clarkston, Wash., and Marie Osborn of Spokane, Wash.; sisters-in-law Jacqueline Slette of Spokane and Helen (Slette) Riggs of Lewiston, Idaho; brother Hans Slette of Woodburn, Ore.; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Wade Brown and Lorraine Allen. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Osborn, Richard, Orville and John Slette; sisters June Slette and Christine Roose. Judy will be buried next to her beloved mate of 14 years, Ellis Totten.
Memorials may be sent to the charity of your choice or the Kootenai Humane Society, P.O. Box 1005, Hayden, ID 83835. Please visit Judy's memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.