Janet True
Janet Orphea True, 89, of Debs, MN died Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at Tamarack Court in Bemidji, MN.
Funeral services will be held at 11 am on Saturday November 29, 2025 at Solway Bible Chapel in Solway MN. Visitation will be held there beginning at 10 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Debs, MN.
Janet was born July 5, 1936 in Hutchinson, MN, the daughter of Calvin and Marian (Harmann) Potter. Janet grew up with her brother Ron and sister Carolyn on a small farm in Ellsworth Township, near Litchfield, where her love of animals, especially horses began. She also developed the work ethic that served her well. Being in a musical family shaped her as well. She sang and played music all her life, accordion and bass guitar, whenever she could. She graduated from Litchfield High School in 1953, then married Donald A. Hanson June 6, 1953 and had three daughters, Sandra, Susan and Debra, they divorced in 1967. She married Gene P. True May 30, 1968.They shared many adventures together, and moved to their rural Debs, MN home in 1973.
Janet had a strong work ethic and stayed busy and productive as long as her body allowed. Besides doing chores and raising kids, her jobs included restaurant work, factory work, caring for children with disabilities, many years of operating the Debs Store and Café, plus countless sewing jobs. She was an active volunteer over the years as a 4-H leader, Relay For Life (breast cancer survivor since 1972), founding member of the Debs Fourth of July Parade committee, and riding with the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Posse. Janet was very handy and could do all kinds of crafts, still working at it the past months. Horses had been the major focus of her life for much of it, and she did miss riding them. Throughout all the years, she taught her many skills to anyone who wanted to learn.
She is survived by her daughters and their families: Sandra Hanson of Tyler, MN; granddaughter Jessica (David) Ahl, great-granddaughters Jocelyn, Annilia and Dana, and a great-great-grandchild, Paxtyn; granddaughter Kyna (John) Hoog and granddaughter Emily Johnson (Emily Butler.); Susan Laabs of Grove City, MN; grandchildren Bonnie (Jason) Laabs-Biwer, Bruce Laabs (Amanda Racine) and great-grandson Samuel; Debra (Gerald) Stein of Debs, MN; granddaughter Shelly (Ben) Helberg and great-grandsons Sabin and Bryce; granddaughter Randi (Luke) Molnar and great-grandchildren Andrew and Grace; granddaughter Kelly Wendorff and great-grandchildren Mylen, Walker, Georgia and Logan; granddaughter Kristen (Trenton) Edgell and great-grandchildren Jaxon, Lyla and Easton.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gene True, granddaughters Sharon Teigland and Jennifer Henry, brother Ron Potter and sister Carolyn Severance.