Janice Ness, 76, of Fergus Falls, died on Sunday, September 7, 2014, surrounded by her family at Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Janice Kathleen Haarstad was born August 19, 1938 to Arnold and Grace (Johnson) Haarstad. She was raised above the Corner Grocery on Main Street, Pelican Rapids. She graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1956 and could still sing their fight song. It was in Pelican Rapids where she met and eventually married Arden LeRoy Ness on May 10th, 1958 at Trinity Lutheran Church.
Jan and Arden have 3 children, Steven (Becky) Ness, Tim (Debbie) Ness of Fergus Falls and Susan (Dan) Peterson of Shafer, MN. Together, Jan and Arden have 10 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren: Matthew (Larissa) Ness, Carter and Kaia; Ryan (Livvy) Ness, Yanah and Aree; Tyler (Andrea) Ness, Wyatt; Justin Ness; Maggie (Kyle) Kronemann (Baby due Oct. 2); Sarah and Andrew Casey, Camden & Olivia; Bryce Barsness; Elizabeth, Alice & Benny Peterson.
While Arden served in the military, he and Jan made their home in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Lee, Virginia; and Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington. They made lifelong friends in the Military with whom they are still in contact to this day. They moved to Fergus Falls in 1960, and built a home in Woodland Heights in 1965 where they raised their family.
Jan was a resident of Fergus Falls for over 50 years. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where she taught Tuesday and Wednesday school release time, Sunday School classes and also played piano for Sunday School. She also served on the church council and was an active circle member. She was a Den Mother for Webelos and Cub Scouts, and a Blue Birds and Campfire Girls leader. While she was not employed outside of the home while her children were young, she assisted Arden in keeping the books for North Union Texaco for many years, which Arden owned and operated. She also worked at Kraning Jewelry for several years before she began working for the Fergus Falls School District. Employed as a Paraprofessional in several different capacities at the Middle school and Cleveland Elementary, she also worked at Adams Elementary in the library until her health forced her to retire in 1997. During the summers, Jan loved her time at Jewett Lake where she and Arden had a place for over 30 years. She prided herself in swimming long past the typical swimming season.
In the late 1990s, Jan and Arden discovered the wonderful warmth of Mesa, AZ. Together, they made several winter trips to Mesa and eventually purchased a place in Silveridge Resort. They enjoyed meeting new friends and gathering with their many Fergus Falls friends who also made their winter home in AZ.
If you know Jan, you have heard her say "I'm a stubborn Norwegian." And ...yes, Yes she was!
Jan is preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, David Haarstad and Connie Haas. She is survived by Arden, her husband of 56 years; her 3 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, a brother in law, Leo Haas of Ashley, ND, 2 nieces, Kristi Sue (Tom) Tarnowski, Julie (Kenny) Stahl, 2 nephews, Kevin (Carla) Klovstad, Brian (Katie) Haas and many great nieces and nephews; and several cousins.
Memorial Service: 11 AM Friday, September 12, 2014 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
Visitation: 5-7 PM Thursday at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Clergy: Rev. Tom Peterson, Rev. Kate Bruns and Rev. Stan Satre
Interment: Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery