Jeff Olson

Gertrude Evelyn "Jeff" Olson, age 87, passed away Tuesday, May 10, 2016, in North Platte, NE.

A Golden Heart stopped beating, hardworking hands put to rest. God welcomed her Home, and we knew we were lucky to have been blessed with the best.

Gertrude was welcomed into this world on July 27, 1928, to her parents William Sr. and Ethel (Rector) Jeffers. Jeff grew up in North Platte where she and her brother, Bill, shared a special bond as siblings. Jeff attended, and graduated from St. Patrick's Catholic School in 1946.

On July 1, 1947, Jeff was united in marriage to Maynard Reuben Olson. Jeff and Maynard began their married lives in Wisconsin, where they welcomed their first child, a son, Terry Lee. Soon after, the couple moved back to North Platte where they welcomed their second child, Sheryl Lynn. Jeff and Maynard enjoyed 38 years of marriage before his passing in 1986.

Over the years, Jeff worked several jobs, which include the S&H Green Stamp Store, Odegaard's, she took in ironing and did odd cleaning jobs, but mostly focused on raising her children. When her children were old enough to take care of themselves, Jeff spent the remainder of her working time as a Dietary Clerk at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, where she retired after 19 years.

After retirement, Jeff volunteered at the Senior Center, R.S.V.P., was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and a very active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, where she dedicated many years and time to participating in the Women's Auxiliary, and especially the Scholarship Program. Jeff enjoyed crocheting, reading books, playing cards, board games, and all kinds of word puzzles. Jeff's true joy and passion in life were her children, and especially so, her grandchildren.

Jeff was a very doting Grandmother. Her grandchildren were the light of her life. She spent the past 34 years being one of the most unconditionally loving and supportive forces in their lives. Jeff was always ready to baby-sit, have dinner, or an infamous sleepover, where she would take turns putting each child to sleep by rubbing heads and scratching backs for hours on end, until the sandman finally came to both.

Her house was always open, and was a second home for both of her grandchildren, where in fact, at points in times of their lives, they both lived with her. She was always happy to see you come home, she always had a meal ready for you, and she was ALWAYS planning what was for dinner the next day. You could not come to her house and leave with an empty stomach, regardless if you had just come home from a night out to dinner.

Jeff devoted most of her life to focusing on and taking care of her family. She proved her unconditional loving and giving ways by being the primary caregiver for her son, Terry, up until his death. Jeff kept herself busy, but her world took on a whole new meaning with a ray of Sunshine that was welcomed into her world on August 17, 2011, in the form of her great-granddaughter, Nattellia Lynn Boyer. From the moment she was born, Jeff loved and lived for the moments with "Atty". She craved and cherished every little moment with her. She would talk for hours about Atty to anyone who would listen. If you came to visit and you didn't have Atty, you were in trouble and light hearted scolding was to be expected.

Over the last few years of her life, Jeff's health deteriorated, and she fought like hell to keep going. She came close to death on several occasions, but always fought back because she knew that there were more important things coming up that she was needed for. She fought through cancer to meet her great-granddaughter, and subsequently stuck around long enough to watch her grow into a young girl who's personality is evident enough there's no doubt "GG" knew what kind of person she is to become. She struggled through another battle to ensure that she was there to watch Kimberly say "I Do" to Ryan. Something Kimberly was certain would never happen, but she was always reassuring her that it would happen with the right person at the right time. Finally, she held on long enough to watch Sara earn her RN. Jeff told Sara she was ready to go about a week before her graduation, and Sara jokingly told her "Not this week Grandma, I don't have time for that." She simply replied "OK". Jeff courteously waited until after Sara graduated on Friday, and passed on Tuesday. We all know she wouldn't have wanted to be an inconvenience.

Jeff carried a special bond with her brother, Bill. Although they were not twins, they definitely had that "twin connection". Jeff knew instinctively when Bill passed, almost as though he stopped by on his way to let her know that he was going home, and he would be there waiting for her. Reassuring her that if ever she was in doubt, that there was no need. Jeff became more at peace and not scared of the "unknown" anymore at that time. As a family we knew, that after 87 years, inner peace finally found her, and she was ready to be welcomed into Heaven and see her Loving Husband, her Son no longer in a body of suffering, and her personal source of Faith, her brother, Bill.

On Tuesday, May 10, 2016, God saw she was getting tired and a cure was not meant to be, so He put his arms around her and whispered "Come with me." This time she listened.

Jeff is survived by her daughter, Sherry (Eddie) Merritt, of Wellfleet, NE; two granddaughters, Kimberly (Ryan) Shockley and Sara (Booker) Boyer, both of North Platte; her great-granddaughter, Nattellia Boyer; sister-in-law, Priscilla Jeffers, of Englewood, CO; and many nieces, nephews and other family.

Along with her husband, Maynard, Jeff was preceded in death by their son, Terry; her parents, William Jeffers and Ethel Jeffers Welch; stepfather, Cliff Welch; and brother, William 'Bill' Jeffers, Jr.

Funeral Service will be 10 a.m. Monday, May 16, 2016, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Father Mark Seiker officiating. Burial will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday with family greeting friends from 5 to 6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to the American Legion Scholarship Fund.