Janet E. Rowse

Rochester- Janet E. Rowse, age 76, died Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at Mayo Clinic Hospital-Rochester, Methodist Campus in Rochester, MN. Janet was born September 2, 1939 in Helena, MT to Henry and Juliet (Sjorli) Spooner. She was raised predominately in Pasco, Washington and after graduating high school from Pasco High School she attended Eastern Washington State University obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in 1960 and a Master of Arts in Education in 1969.
Janet was a college professor for over thirty years at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington.... while raising 34 children, her own, adopted and foreign. She was a published poet, received the American Mother's Award for North Dakota, awarded Good Samaritan Volunteer of the Year, won First Place in Literature, and is the author of a book of poems called "Something that Sustains my Soul". She also had been farming organically with her son and husband for the past twenty years.
Janet was involved in many social, professional, civic and religious organizations, including: President of the Delta Kappa Gamma educational sorority in Washington; Education Officer and on board/communicator of Lutheran Brotherhood; Chairman of Rachel Royston Permanent Foundation; developed and implemented Bethlehem Lutheran Scholarship/Educational Foundation; secretary, Sunday school teacher, participated and completed the ELCA Gifts Program-pulpit supply program at Zion Lutheran Church; involved with the program committee, grant writing and a cook at UMM (Upper Missouri Ministries); president, secretary and treasurer at Beta Sigma Phi; received Distinguished Service Award from BLSEF (Bethlehem Lutheran Scholarship Endowment Foundation); implemented, designed and directed LEDS (Latchkey Extended Day School) for 8 years; president of Meadowlark Arts Council; president of Thrivent Leadership Board; vice-president of Town& Country Women's Organization; board member, secretary and officer for Upper Missouri Ministries Foundation; chairman of North Dakota Humanities Council; coordinator of Country Road Buying Club; member of Sons of Norway and Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society; involved in the design, implement and directing of the CBC Learning Center.
Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Thomas; three children, Randy (Julieta) Rowse of Noonan, ND, Donna Jean (Jeffrey) Schultz of Odessa, Texas; Melinda (Don) Saffel. Grandchildren, Robbie (Tracy) Sydor; Gracie Marie Rowse. Great-Grandchildren, Corey, Andora, Brenden and Ayden. Janet was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Harley Spooner.
A memorial service will be held April 14, 2016 at 1:00 PM at Zion Lutheran Church in Noonan, ND. If so desired, memorials may be directed (in Janet's name) to: Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, Noonan,ND. Friends may share a memory at mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com