Joyce N. (Daggett) Olson, 92

Joyce N. (Daggett) Olson “slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” on March 31, 2011, at her home in Kalispell. She was 92.

Joyce was born in 1919, in Eureka, to Clarence and Audrey Daggett. She attended grade school in Polson and Klamath Falls, Ore., and graduated from high school in Libby.

Joyce taught herself to play the piano through a correspondence school while growing up in Libby. She studied music for a year at the University of Montana in Missoula, and attended a business school in Spokane. She set the record for shorthand notetaking speed in Lincoln County.

Joyce married the late Donald F. Olson in March 1944. While her children were growing up, she was active in Cub Scouts, Bible studies and played accompaniment for many high school band soloists at district and state music festivals. Don and Joyce moved to Kalispell in 1996.

In 1990, Joyce was inducted into the LSHS Hall of Fame for Distinguished Graduates. Besides raising her three children, David, Julie and Russell, Joyce enjoyed gardening, sewing, swimming, water skiing, picnicking, ice skating and playing piano and organ for the First Presbyterian Church in Libby.

After the children were grown, she took up watercolor painting. She became quite proficient at her art after studying under several well-known water colorists, and taught some classes of water coloring in California and Montana.

Joyce is survived by her children, David and Naomi of Polson, Russell and Leslie of San Diego, and Bill and Julie Chasteen of Gooding, Idaho; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Don; her parents; and her brother, Jack.

Interment will be at the Libby cemetery with family attending.

An open house to “celebrate Joyce’s home-going” will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Monday, April 4 at 112C Glenwood Drive in Kalispell.