Services pending for Janet Solem Drangstveit
Fri, 05/25/2018 - 10:04am
admin
Janet Carol Solem was born August 27, 1937 at Grygla, MN to parents Otto and Caroline (Austinson) Solem. She passed away May 17, 2018 peacefully at her home surrounded by her family. She fought a 4 year battle with Multiple Myeloma. Janet attended country school for 7 years and eighth grade in the village of Grygla. She then attended high school in Thief River Falls, graduating in 1955. After graduation she worked at Brown & Biglow in St. Paul, MN for one year, returning to Thief River and accepted a job at Northwestern Hospital, where she met Orvin Drangstveit. They were married November 4, 1957 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls.
They lived in several different cities including Williston and Grand Forks, ND; Portland, OR; Albert Lea, MN and the past several years back in Portland, OR. Janet was mainly a stay at home mom, worked part time at retail and several years as a receptionist at her husband’s optical business. Janet was an avid reader and had her own library. She loved company, the coffee pot was always on, friends, neighbors and relatives were welcomed with much chatting, laughing and joking. She was an accomplished artist and had many of her paintings displayed in her home. She and Orvin were long time members of the Sons of Norway where Janet was secretary of the lodge for several years.
She loved going to northwest MN to pick blueberries and cranberries to make jams and jellies for her friends and family. The things she loved most were her children, grand children and great grandchildren, she would speak of them with a smile on her face.
Janet is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Orvin. Cherished children: Melody Drangstveit and her daughter Tara (Jaime) Pacheco; Dion (Kathy) Drangstveit, their sons Hunter and Ryder; Son-in-law Norman Adkins, his sons Lance, Kyler and Carson; Great Grandchildren Tristin and Mija Pacheco and Kellen Adkins. Sisters Ramona (Moni) (Richard) Larson of Andover, MN; Joice Sebastian of Sauk Rapids, MN; brother John (Cheryl) of Roseau, MN. Many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Janet is preceded in death by her parents, daughter Tami Jo Adkins in 2010. Memorial services to be held at a later date in Portland, OR.