Janice E. Helgeson, 77, of Maddock, ND passed away Monday, May 7, 2018 in Minnewaukan, ND. Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 PM Saturday, May 12, 2018 at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Minnewaukan, ND. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at the St. Olaf Church Cemetery. Music will be provided by Karen Smith and Carl Gilbertson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery Fund: 5646 47 ^th St. NE Minnewaukan, ND 58351.

Janice Elaine Watland was born May 28, 1940 to John and Mabel (Tufte) Watland in Benson County, ND. She faced many obstacles at a young age, being born with a heart defect. Janice was part of a medical breakthrough when introduced to anti-rejection medication during open heart surgery. She was educated in a school house across the road from the family home, by her mother. After her father passed away, the family moved to Harlow, ND and Janice finished her education at the Benson County Agricultural Training School in Maddock, ND.

Janice was united in marriage to Robert Helgeson on November 14, 1959 in Mayville, ND. Six children were born from this union: Lonnie, Lorri, Randy, Ronald, Daniel and DeAnn. Seeking employment, Robert & Janice moved to Peoria Illinois in 1961. In 1975, The family moved to Jamestown, ND where she was employed at the North Dakota State Hospital in the Chemical and Dependency Treatment Unit. To be closer to their adult children, Robert & Janice moved to Belle Plain MN in 1988. In 1999, the couple purchased the Helgeson farmstead in Benson County and has resided in rural Maddock, ND since.

Janice was a very compassionate, hard working woman and was never afraid to undergo any task that lay in front of her. She loved to entertain and cook for guests but her favorite past time was spent being a caregiver to her family. To Janice, her family was her life. She supported and encouraged her children in their endeavors and was very proud of their successes. Janice loved being a grandmother and great-grandmother and was most happy when her family was all together.

Janice is survived by her husband of 58 years, Robert; children: Lonnie (Marianne) of Montgomery, MN, Lorri (Don) Helgeson-Reiter of Michigan, ND, Randy (Sonia) of Bemidji, MN, Ronald of New Prague, MN and Daniel of New Prague, MN; 12 grandchildren: Melissa, Jasmine, Nathan, Dannon, Tory, Alisha, Thearon, Daniel, Claire, Maria, Amber and Jordan; 4 great-grandchildren; siblings, John Watland of Detroit Lakes, MN and Carol Hoosier of Reedsburg, WI.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, DeAnn Elaine Helgeson; parents, John and Mabel (Tufte) Watland; sister, Arlene.