Eva Francis Olson, a longtime resident of Tioga, North Dakota passed away January 14, 2022, at the Tioga Medical Center from complications after a fall.

Eva was born January 26, 1931, to Frank and Bessie (Lester) Frisinger in rural Watford City, ND. She was the third of four sisters followed by three brothers.

She married Penn Harms in 1949 with whom she had four children, Penny, Rox Ann, Gary and Robert.

Soon after oil was discovered in the Tioga area, Penn and Eva moved from the Harms’ farm in McKenzie County to the Three-Mile corner south of Tioga on Highway 2, where she owned and operated the P&E Café. She had jobs for her children at the cafe, where Penny became one of her best waitresses.

Penn and Eva divorced. Eva married Donald (Buck) Schmidt in 1963. Buck died suddenly in 1965.

After closing the café in 1968 Eva worked at Blikre Motors, Farmer’s Union Oil, City Cafeteria in Tioga and then the United States Post Office where she caught the eye of Carroll Olson. Ever the gentlemen, he called to see if she would have coffee, to which she agreed and their courtship began. Eva and Carroll married in 1972 and maintained their home in Tioga. The two loved to travel and enjoyed trips all over the United States even venturing to Alaska in their camper. Their happy marriage was cut short when Carroll died in 1995. After Carroll’s death and true to her nature, she often traveled with organized groups to see parts of the US she had not yet seen.

Eva was a prolific and talented quilter. She made Christmas wall hangings, table runners and quilts for each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to garden and had a special talent for canning. She would deliver quarts of crisp dill pickles as Christmas gifts to family and reminded all of us that she “wanted the jars back.”

She was a lifetime active member of the Tioga American Legion Auxiliary for 57 years and the Handy Mandy Homemakers and enjoyed her involvement and many friendships that developed in both organizations.

Eva has six grandsons. She was always available to stay with them or have them stay at her home. She traveled to see them and be part of their lives. She would look after them, entertain them, take them fishing, play Monopoly or cards and make them special meals. “Grandma Eva’s” fried chicken was always a welcome treat.

Eva was fearless traveling long distances in her Buick to visit friends, family and the casino in New Town.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carroll L. Olson; daughter, Rox Ann Harms; son, Gary Harms; sisters, Virginia Lund, Lillian Rinck, and Lottie Rolla; brothers, Franklin Frisinger and Dennis Frisinger; husband, Donald (Buck) Schmidt and stepson, Tom Schmidt.

She is survived by children, Penny (Gene) Moe and Robert (Cherie) Harms; grandchildren, Curtiss (Sonja) Moe, Shawn (Carrie) Moe, Chad ( Jessica) Moe, David (Christine) Harms, Gunther (Alexie) Harms and Diedrich (Sarah) Harms; great-grandchildren, Conner (Libbi) Moe, Madeline Moe, Bridger Moe, Jackson Moe, Olivia Moe, and Caleb Moe; brother, Russell (Audrey) Frisinger; brother-in-law, Don Lund; sister-in-law, Lucy Frisinger; stepchildren, Monte Olson, Linda (Olson) Carmody, Carolyn (Olson) White, Donna (Schmidt) Shafer and Kelly Schmidt and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial Contribution