Janice Stordahl

Janice Anastasia Stordahl…

was born to Art and Delain (Lauwagie) DeCroock on October 31, 1938 in Pipestone, Minnesota. She was baptized at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Garretson and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper, Minnesota. She attended grade school in Jasper for the first 1-1/2 years and then Sunnycrest Country School near Sherman, South Dakota until the eighth grade. When the family moved to a farm by Jasper, she rejoined her first grade class as an eighth grader and graduated from Jasper High School in 1956. She was very active in high school with band, choir, cheerleading, and declam. She was co-editor of the school newspaper in her senior year. After graduation, she became the bookkeeper for the Farmers Coop Elevator until she married Jerry Stordahl on September 5, 1959. Following their marriage, they lived in Luverne, Minnesota until 1984 when they moved to Pipestone. While in Luverne, Jan was employed at the Luverne Medical Center (now Sanford Clinic) from October 1959 until June 2008. She was brought to Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls, South Dakota after a stroke and died there February 3, 2013 at the age of 74 years, three months and three days.

Jan was currently a member of St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone and had served as a Eucharistic minister from 1986 to 2007. While living in Luverne, she was a member of St. Catherine Catholic church where she was active in the CCW and served as the president in 1982. She was also a member of Mrs. Jaycees for many years and served as the Regional Vice President in 1960. She was an avid golfer, both in Luverne and Pipestone. She was a six-time Ladies Club Champ in Pipestone between 1986 and 1999 and had several runner-ups in both Luverne and Pipestone. She loved the outdoors! Her grandchildren were the loves of her life and she spent as much time with them as possible. Friends were also very important to her – going back to those from high school, friends in Luverne and Pipestone – no one was ever forgotten and she had great concern for them all. She loved to dance, particularly later in life, with the singles group.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Susan Cowles of Eden Prairie and Patty and her husband Bobb Winter of Volga, South Dakota; six grandchildren, Courtney and Hailey Cowles, Bobbi Jo, Nicholas, Sierra and Sydney Winter; three great-grandchildren, Tristen, Connor and Landon; brother, Duane and his wife Kaye DeCroock of Jasper, Minnesota; nephew, Brent and his wife Tammy, Darren DeCroock and niece Cherie and husband Bryce Kindt; eight grand nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.