Janice C. Noreen, 78
Thief River Falls – Janice Noreen, Thief River Falls, age 78, passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at St. Joseph Hospital, Phoenix, AZ.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at Black River Lutheran Church, rural St. Hilaire, with Rev. Sheila Michaels officiating. Burial will be at Black River Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, with a 5 p.m. prayer service and also one hour prior to the service at the church, Thursday.
Janice Claire Krohn was born on January 9, 1939 in Thief River Falls, the daughter of Carl Marcus and Johanna Thelma (Jensen) Krohn. She was baptized on June 4, 1939 and confirmed November 1, 1953 at Zion Lutheran Church in Viking, MN. She attended Newfolden Community School graduating with the class on May 31, 1956.
On July 18, 1959, Janice was united in marriage to Lloyd Maynard Noreen at Zion Lutheran Church in Viking. To this union three children were born, Wendy, Laura and Brian. They made their home on a farm in Bray Township, Pennington County. They farmed small grains, raised beef cattle and for a short time, Janice had a dairy cow to provide fresh milk for her family.
At harvest time, Janice was the one who made the lunches and drove grain truck. On May 18, 2000, Lloyd died after a six-month bout with cancer. That summer as things settled down, Janice got busy outdoors, continuing many of the improvements that she and Lloyd had been working on. Her efforts were recognized when the Noreen Farm was named by the Pennington County Soil & Water Conservation District as that year’s Rural Beautification winner.
Janice stayed on the farm until 2002 then moved into Thief River Falls. In the winter, Janice took trips to Yuma, AZ and in 2005 bought a place in The Foothills.
Janice enjoyed being a homemaker while her children were growing up and eventually went to work in the sewing department at Arctic Cat.
She enjoyed dancing, bowling, gardening, mowing, working with flowers, knitting, crocheting, making quilts, baby dresses and baptism dresses for the grandkids, and making jewelry with beads. Janice was always positive, a very strong willed lady and generous in caring about other people.
At a dance in Yuma, AZ in 2006, Janice met William “Bill” Crawford Hunter from Oregon. He came to Minnesota and Janice and Bill were married 2 months later. They spent summers in Minnesota and winters in Arizona with trips by train to Oregon. On June 12, 2007, Janice was found to have Leukemia, which she battled courageously until the time of her passing.
Janice was a member of Black River Lutheran Church in rural St. Hilaire, Pennington County 4-H Leaders Council, Pennington County Fair Board, Garden Club, Eagle’s Club and Road Runners Dance Club in Yuma, AZ.
Survivors include her husband, Bill of Lostine, OR; children, Wendy (Craig) Mattson of Thief River Falls, Laura “Lollie” (Mark) Gagner of West Fargo, ND, Brian (Doris) Noreen of Reno, NV; step-children, Lisa (Ed) Dupont and Laurie Hunter; grandchildren, Carley (Dylan) Nelson, Claire Mattson, Adam (Dikshya) Amiot, Dylan Gagner, Ashley Gagner, Deja Gagner, Brittny (Luke) Sanderson, Briane Noreen, Bryce (Micaylee) Noreen, Taylor (Kelly) Nelson, Travis Nelson, Mandy Nelson; step-grandchildren, Lilly, Tre, Sylas, Tiana, Melody; great-grandchildren, Natasha, Ciscilee, Brilynn; step-great grandchildren, Isabella, Tucker, Madalynn; sister, Lois (George Odell) Weiss; brother, Duane (Mavis) Krohn; sister-in-law, Dee Noreen; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd and her parents.
Memorials are suggested to Black River Church or Trails To Treatment.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
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