Obituary: Janice Walen

Janice Walen

Janice Marie (Smith) Walen, age 87, of Glenfield, N.D., died Monday, July 29, 2024, at the Sunset Drive Home in Mandan, N.D.

Janice's graveside service was held Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Glenfield Cemetery, rural Glenfield, N.D. Following the graveside service, a Celebration of Life was held at the Community Center in Glenfield at 10:45 a.m., with Chuck Walen officiating. Music ("In The Garden" and "Amazing Grace") was provided by Janice's granddaughters and great-granddaughters.

Pallbearers were Jeremy Neuharth, Trevor Neuharth, Kevin Revier, Seth Revier, Robert Sawyer and Jordan Kannianen.

Janice and her twin brother, Jerry, were born July 18, 1937, in Mabel Township, Griggs Co, N.D., to Henry and Annie (Bultema) Smith. She was raised on the farm near Sutton with her siblings: Geneva, Thelma, Eileen, Richard, Pat, and Jerry. Janice and Jerry did trick horse riding. Janice and Jerry were both students of the last class at Sutton School before it was a co-op with Glenfield.

She met the love of her life, Leander Walen, on a blind date, and shortly after they were married on June 10, 1956. They made their home on the Walen family farm near Glenfield, N.D. They had three children: Charles, Leanne, and Dennis.

Friends and relatives swarmed to her home on a regular basis to enjoy her delicious cooking and baking. Everyone loved her many pies. Several favorites are the Strawberry-Rhubarb or the Peach-Blueberry pies.

She filled her free time with crocheting, knitting, macramé, and reading. Janice custom-made at least one crocheted blanket for every one of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her three children, Chuck (Joy) Walen of New Town, N.D., Leanne (Kevin) Revier of Courtenay, N.D., and Dennis (Fran) Walen of Sutton, N.D.; a sister, Pat Rickford of Green Bay, Wis.; sisters-in-law, Elaine Smith of Cooperstown, N.D., Dorris Smith of Plymouth, Minn., and Margrethe Milton of Detroit, Mich.; 15 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Annie Smith; her husband, Leander; two brothers, Richard and her twin brother Jerry and three sisters, Geneva Klinge, Thelma Wright and Eileen Johnson.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home, Carrington and New Rockford, N.D.