Georgejean Olson

Georgejean Olson “Mama”

Georgejean (Beyeler) Olson, affectionately known as ”Mama”,83 of South Sioux City, Nebraska died Thursday, June 19, 2025 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, comforted by family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 27, 2025 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Newcastle, Nebraska with Father Owen Korte and Father Kenneth Hoesing Concelebrating. Burial will follow at the Newcastle City Cemetery in Newcastle. Visitation, with the family present, will be on Thursday, June 26th from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the church in Newcastle with a Vigil Service beginning on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.meyerbroschapels.com

Georgejean was the sixth daughter born to Ivy and Vet Beyler in Ponca, Nebraska on September 12, 1941. She was raised on the family farm east of Newcastle until August 28, 1948, when her parents bought a house and moved into town. Georgejean liked to read, jump rope and to go out on the farm with all of the animals. She loved doing anything outside, especially playing baseball in the lot across the street. Georgejean always wanted a horse, and in the eighth grade her Dad bought her a horse named Trixie. She was very close to her Grandma Beyler because she always understood how Georgejean felt and let her speak her mind. Georgejean excelled in school, skipping the first grade because of her excellent reading abilities (she credits Bobbie for reading to her almost every night). English and literature were her favorite high school subjects and she played volleyball (it was the only sport offered to girls). She graduated as the class valedictorian.

She married Carl Rasmussen and together they had seven wonderful children – Deann, Steve, Lynne, Mary, Jim, Rick and Karl – who were the center of Georgejean’s life. She later married Gary Olson and welcomed his four children – Shane, Melinda, Wendi and Craig, who she also loved dearly.

Georgejean focused her life on raising her kids on the farm. She was dedicated to them, a tireless worker and a selfless provider. In order to help support the family she babysat lots and lots of kids and cleaned the Willis Elementary School. She made sure every kid had a birthday party (picking out their own cake for her to bake), went to swimming lessons, learned to ride a bike, got to their ballgames and coached many of the girls softball and boys baseball teams, the softball teams often reached the state tournament. The Catholic Faith was very important to Georgejean and she taught Catechism to many children in St. Patrick’s Parish in Jackson, NE along with singing in the church choir. Georgejean was a wonderful cook, rarely ever used recipes. She never wanted anyone to go hungry. She put everyone else ahead of herself.

After moving from the farm, she took a job working in payroll at IBP (Tyson). She held various roles throughout her years there but was very proud of being promoted to HRIS Manager before retirement (despite her lack of a college degree).

When her first grandchild Jeremy was born, he started calling her “Mama”. That became her identity. Her home was known to all as “Mama’s House”. A place of love, warmth (literally as well – she hated being cold and didn’t like a/c) and refuge for family, friends and strangers. It was a playground for little kids and she had the best toy room that could be imagined. In the summertime there was rarely a day when you wouldn’t find a little kid playing with the hose and tubs of water out on the deck in front of “Mama’s House” or inside in the bathtub getting all fresh and clean. Mama loved traditions – her favorite was Cookie Day during Christmas but she also loved her 4th of July parade and the annual rummage sale. Mama loved animals – all animals. She would take in every stray and try to nurse any injured creature back to health. She fed every stray in the neighborhood.

Mama held a unique and special relationship with everyone in her life – it was her special gift. She was kind and understanding, unselfish, generous, wise, strong in faith, but could also be tough and direct in a loving way. She brought life to every situation, was always up for an adventure, a great travel companion and was always there to support you – regardless of the circumstances. Mama always took care of everyone.

In 2023 Georgejean reunited with grade school sweatheart Mel Cole (he was the first boy she ever kissed). They spent the last few years together, physically or on the phone, bringing joy to each other’s lives. She was living her best life.

Georgejean is survived by her loving companion Mel Cole; her children: Lynne Bockelmann of Sloan, IA; Mary (Jim) Sullivan of Jackson, NE; Jim (Dawn) Rasmussen of Sherburn, MN; and Rick (Jamie) Rasmussen of Sioux City, IA. Grandchildren: Jeremy (Jessica) Koeppe, Brittney (Brent) Wood, McKinzi (Brady) Worrell, Beau (Jill) Koeppe, Morgan (Isaac)Tubbesing, Maddy Sullivan (Austin Bright), Mallory (Cody) Zarn, Zachary (Olivia) Rasmussen, Jakob Rasmussen, Elizabeth Rasmussen, Isabella Rasmussen, EmmaLynne Rasmussen, Anthony (Claire) Rasmussen, Alivia Rasmussen, Rhyan Rasmussen and Joseph Rasmussen. Great grandchildren Jackson and Will Koeppe; Kambrei, Brinley, Hadley and Gage Wood; Kinsley, Kennedy, Reed, Ryder and Morgan Worrell; Nora and Avery Koeppe; Nadine, Neve and Thea Tubbesing; and Zach and Olivia’s baby girl in August. She is survived by her stepchildren Shane Olson of Sioux City, Craig Olson of Ewing, NE, and Wendi (Jason) Dwinell of Wayne, NE. Step grandchildren: Laurel (Kiel) Brunken, Gabrielle Dwinell, Ozzy Olson, and Isaac Olson. Step great grandchildren: Averi, Everett and Ashytn Brunken, and her siblings: Robin (Jim) Anderson of Laramie, Wy, Elaine Cantrell of Dakota City, NE, Carolyn Stanek of Valley Center, KS, Ivette (Lyle) Bender of Lincoln, NE, Pam (Dick) Kettler of Dakota City, NE and Vetty (Patty) Beyeler of Newcastle, NE.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ivy and Vet Beyeler; husband, Gary Olson; Children, Deann, Steve and Karl Rasmussen; step daughter Melinda Melchor; son-in-law Lowell Bockelmann; grandchild Zachary Koeppe; greatgrandchild Braden Worrell; step grandchild Caleb Dwinell; siblings, Bobbie Hoesing, Starr Nielsen, Cherie Bauer and Myrle Beyeler.