A visitation will be held from 1-2 pm on Friday, June 26, 2020, at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home-South Chapel in New Ulm. A committal service will follow in the New Ulm City Cemetery.

To leave an online condolence for her family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Jane was born in St. Paul to Bertha and Henry Halvorson and graduated from Central High School in 1940. Her early art interest was nurtured by doing scrapbooks with her dad and plate painting with her mom. Her childhood was very happy.

After 3 1/2 years in nursing study at the University of Minnesota, the love of her life, Lyle, came home on a short leave from WWII and they gave us an extraordinary happy New Year’s Eve memory of a wedding on December 31, 1943, at her parents’ home in St. Paul. She embraced the role of an army wife for 24 years, savoring opportunities in Germany, San Francisco, the DC Corridor, and Governor’s Island in New York Harbor, among numerous other places. She traveled in Europe and the US, especially enjoying our national parks. The children are grateful for her love, care, and maximum sacrifices. She was a self-taught cook. She introduced a variety of music and art into the home, and taught piano to Jay. She was the stereotype of a real home maker.

Upon the family’s retirement from the Army, Jane and Lyle lived in Ames, Iowa, for 12 years; Bella Vista, Arkansas, for 14 years; and New Ulm since the early 1990’s. Ames was where her art passion caught fire and she was introduced to theories, mediums, subjects, arrangements, etc. In Arkansas she was president of the 600-member art club there. She sold hundreds of paintings of natural and outdoor subjects and still life from all mediums at sales and under consignment. In New Ulm she was an active member of the Literary Club and some exercise groups.

Over time, Jane gradually and gracefully retreated from this world of past and future, into a world where only the moment was her awareness. In that moment she was an ice cream lover, a smiling friend, and amusing to those around her. The family insists on thanking Orchard Hill Assisted Living and Woodstone Memory Care.

Jane is survived by her children: Lowell (Ingrid) of New Ulm, and Jay (Lydia) of West Des Moines, Iowa; three grandchildren: Gabrielle (Brekken) Klomstad of Clive, Iowa, Alexandra Liedman of West Des Moines, and Natalie (Ben) Mahoney of Johnston, Iowa; nieces: Sue (Terry Novak) Cutler of Nevis, and Laurel (John) Ray of White Bear Lake.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lyle, and her sister Shirley.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Arts for the Schools found at: www.artsfortheschools.org

Mvfh.org

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