Janice Eidsness

Jan Eidsness, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on June 4, 2023, at 84, surrounded by family. Her funeral service will be held on Monday, June 12 at 2 pm at Horan & McConaty (7577 W 80th Ave, Arvada, CO 80003).

Jan was born to Kenneth and Florence Olson on September 23, 1938, in Vienna, South Dakota. Jan grew up in rural South Dakota alongside her four older sisters: Margaret Edwards, Kathryn Wicks, Barbara Hasche, and Beverly Zapp, as well as her two younger brothers, Kenny and Richard Olson.

Jan's greatest joys in life were her two children, Valerie Poland and Shari Kjellsen. She adored her three grandchildren, Ashley Harkrader (Bradley), Kyle Poland (Kesha), and Ryan Poland, and was thrilled to be a great-grandmother to Bodie Poland.

As a single mother, Jan worked tirelessly to provide for her family. She held the position of a bookkeeper for Fenn's Dairy in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and supplemented her income as a waitress at the Elk's Club while also taking in ironing. Her determination and resilience were admirable, and she proved that hard work knows no boundaries.

Jan achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first female stockbroker in South Dakota. Encouraged by her husband, Roald Eidsness, and with the support of Bob Witt, manager and mentor at Piper Jaffray & Hopwood, Jan pursued her passion and broke through gender barriers. In 1994, she relocated to Colorado to be closer to her beloved grandchildren and continued her successful career as a stockbroker at Piper Jaffray in Boulder, Colorado. Eventually, she achieved another milestone by opening her own branch of Raymond James in Westminster, Colorado, where she continued to work until her retirement in 2003.

Jan cherished the time spent with her family, while skiing the gentle slopes of Keystone Resort in Colorado or fishing for walleye near Pierre, South Dakota. These were the moments she treasured, and her family will honor her memory by scattering her ashes at those special locations.

During her retirement years, Jan enjoyed her hobbies, such as reading historical fiction novels, tending to her yard, meticulously shining brass figurines, completing intricate jigsaw puzzles, and staying informed by watching the news. She also found joy in trading stocks and took delight in hosting her family for holiday and birthday celebrations.

Jan was preceded in death by her loving husband, Roald Eidsness; her parents, Kenneth and Florence Olson; her sisters, Margaret Edwards and Beverly Zapp; her brother Richard Olson, as well as Lloyd Kjellsen.

Jan will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Her unwavering dedication, generosity, and fun-loving spirit will continue to inspire and leave an indelible mark on the lives she touched.