Judith "Judi" Olson

Judi was born on June 9, 1949, in Bloomington, MN, to Frank and Ardese Barrett and was the oldest of five children. She graduated from South High School in Minneapolis in 1967 and met Lee that summer. In January of 1970, Lee proposed to Judi in a movie theater during the movie “Oliver”. In a letter to her cousin, Judi wrote, “Kathy, I want the Lord to come, but not until I am married to Lee…” Judi got her wish, on August 7, 1970, she married Lee and together they built a home and raised a family. Judi’s pride and joy were her children and her grandchildren. She went to great lengths to let her family know she loved them and supported them. She was devoted, generous, committed and self-sacrificial to her loved ones. She was a true servant to her family and never turned down a challenge or an adventure.

While raising her family, Judi worked hard as an adult to earn her Bachelor’s Degree and eventually her Master’s Degree in Communication from Bethel University and Seminary. She then worked in Bethel’s Continued Adult Education Program as an Admissions Coordinator and found great joy helping other adults fulfill their dreams. Judi loved to help others and was someone you could depend on. She was hardworking, loyal, honest, thoughtful, generous and dedicated.

Judi loved using her imagination to tell stories to her grandchildren. Her lifelong goal was to create a legacy for each grandchild and author a children’s book for each one of them. Judi would often lay in bed and create stories on the spot with her grandchildren about how much she loved them and the animals outside. Judi successfully authored three out of five books. The first book was “There’s a Dinosaur Under my Bed” written for her grandson Kody. The second was “I Love You More Than Pigs Love Mud” written for her granddaughter Hannah and quoted to each of her grandchildren from the day they were born. The third book was “Feathers of Many Colors” written for her granddaughter Ysrael. This book won the 2025 Jeanette Fair Memorial Book Award in Minnesota.

Judi loved to travel and spend time with family and friends, no matter the distance. California, Florida, Australia, Arizona or Montana, Judi was always up for an adventure, if it meant spending time with the people she loved. Judi loved history and took pride in providing opportunities for her grandchildren to learn as well. Judi had a zest for life that is captured in her favorite song she taught to all of her grandchildren and even into her later years would still sing to them, “You are my Sunshine.” Judi loved to sing and her voice can still be heard in our hearts as we sing some of her favorite songs today.

The last few years of Judi’s life were spent fighting various degenerative diseases that eventually required full-time homecare. We praise God for giving us Georgia to care for Judi in the comfort of her own home that she lived in for nearly 40 years, surrounded by the people she loved. It is in honor of Georgia and our appreciation for her, that a bakery is being built at the orphanage she was raised at in Liberia. The bakery will be able to bake enough bread to not only feed the orphanage but to provide a sustainable source of income for the orphanage as well. All monetary gifts will be donated to the building of the bakery in memory and honor of Judi.

Judi is survived by her husband of 56 years, Lee; her children, Kristin (Steve) Powell, Nathan (Cindi) Olson, and Priscilla (Chance) Buzzell; five grandchildren; and her sister, Rebekah Hanson and brother, Peter Barrett. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Priscilla Gardner and brother, Mark Barrett.

A Praise and Worship service will be held November 8 with visitation starting at 1:00, and a program at 2:00 PM at Pathways Community Church, 6341 167th Ave NW, Ramsey, MN 55303.

Burial will be November 9, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Morningside Memorial Cemetery, 11800 University Ave Northwest Coon Rapids, MN 55448, meet at the main entrance at 12:55.