Alta Jean Olson of Rapid City, SD died 3/27/2018 at Close to Home Hospice at age 92.

Alta “Jean” Kunkel was born January 7, 1926 at Hawarden, IA to George Kunkel and Alta (Bartling) Kunkel. As a baby she moved with her family to Bridgewater, SD. Graduating from Bridgewater High in 1943, she married John K. Beegle in May 1944. After his 27 months in the Air Force during WWII, they returned to John’s hometown of Omaha, NE, where their two daughters Pamela and Vicki were born. After four years, they moved to Sioux Falls, SD where Jean attended Stewart’s School of Hairstyling. Upon finishing hairstyling school, they moved to Rapid City in 1958 where she worked for many years. She was also active in First Presbyterian Church, Does Lodge, and SD Hairdressers. She married her second husband Don Olson in 1981. He died of cancer in 1985.

After 36 years in Rapid City, Jean moved back to her hometown of Bridgewater SD in 1994, after being away for 52 years. She always referred to her return as “coming home to roost”. After living in Sioux Falls for three and a half years, she returned to Rapid City in May 2003.

Survivors include two daughters, Pamela Johnson of Gillette Wyoming, and Vicki Fitzpatrick of Rapid City, 5 grandchildren, 7 great-grandsons, 6 great-granddaughters, many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. & Mrs. George Kunkel, an infant brother, adopted brother Jack, husband Don Olson, and sisters Vivian Peterson and LaVon Byington.

Please send cards to Pam Johnson, 402 Obsidian Drive, Gillette, WY 82716.

Condolences may be conveyed to the family through the funeral home website