Carol Y (Olson) Eshleman, age 83, of Hershey, passed away on April 26th at Great Plains Health, North Platte Nebraska. Carol was born on February 4, 1943, at Emmons, Minnesota to Carl and Clarice (Gordon) Olson. 

The Olsons moved from Minnesota to Kansas when Carol was just 2 years old. Her elementary education began in Dresden, KS and continued in Wellfleet, NE. She graduated from North Platte Public High School in 1961 and attended Kearney State Teacher’s College, graduating in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.  Carol married her love, James Eshleman, at the North Platte United Methodist Church on March 18, 1967. They lived in the country near Hershey and she shaped her life around Jim and their family. She supported her husband and sons always. During their son’s growing-up years, she was Scout Leader, Sunday School Teacher, and baseball mom. She cherished the time spent with her grandchildren and took an active role in their lives. She loved God, her family, her Church family, her Bible Study ladies (God’s Children) of nearly 50 years, her bridge buddies, and their card club group of nearly 60 years! She loved ballgames, music, playing cards, cross-word puzzles and dancing. (She and Jim danced until dawn in Argentina!) She loved being around happy, positive people and she loved being with friends who made her laugh! Carol got to teach! She taught Home Economics in the North Platte Public School System for 33 years at Madison Junior High/Middle School and at Adams Middle School. Upon her retirement from the NP School system, she worked at the North Platte Public Library for 15 years. Working with teens and planning Library programs for youth was a good fit for her, and taking many of those library programs to area schools was a joy for Carol especially when she could connect with former students and have contact with teachers.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: LaDonna Cook, Nellie Catterson, and Raymond Olson. 

She is survived by her husband, Jim, of Hershey (See you later, Babe!); sons: Timothy of Overland Park, KS (former spouse, Susana) and Robert (Tami) of Hershey; 5 grandchildren: Ryan (Abbi) of Gothenburg, Josh of Longmont, CO; James of Denver CO; Elton of Overland Park, KS; Lucia of Tucson, AZ; and great grandson, Dallis. Surviving siblings are Helen McConnell (Gary) of Wallace, and David (Beebee) of North Platte; brothers-in-law: Richard Cook (Donna) of Gandy, James Catterson of North Platte, and sister-in-law, Phyllis McEntee-Olson, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to the Hershey United Methodist Church or Hershey Volunteer Fire Department

Memorial service will be held 10:00 A.M., Saturday, May 16, 2026, Hershey Methodist Church, Hershey, Nebraska. Inurnment will follow the service at the Riverview Cemetery, Sutherland, Nebraska. Pastor Mark Baldwin will be officiating. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is assisting the family.