Janet Howe Jordheim

Janet Howe Jordheim, age 82, departed her earthly life on Tuesday, August 27, 2013, to return to her Creator. For a number of years the state of her health slowly declined, which she accepted with inner strength and God-given grace.

Janet Beldon Howe was born on January 12, 1931, in St John’s Hospital, Fargo, North Dakota. She was the daughter of George Coleman Howe and Esther Talcott Howe, longtime residents of Fargo and Casselton, North Dakota. She attended Clara Barton Elementary School, as did her children and some grandchildren. Janet briefly attended Central High School in Fargo. She then attended St. Mary’s Hall, an Episcopal girl’s school, which is the sister school of Shattuck in Fairbault, Minnesota. Janet graduated from the University of Montana, having been awarded a Bachelor of Art’s degree in English Literature.

When Janet was a sophomore at Central High, there was a senior boy named Bob (Robert) Jordheim who saw her in the school hallway. Bob was determined to meet the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. It truly was love at first sight. After nine years of constant correspondence, and medical school behind him, Dr. Robert Phillips Jordheim and Janet Beldon Howe were married on July 12, 1955.Janet and Bob began their lives together in Big Spring, Texas, where Bob served as an air force physician. After a few years in Texas, they moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where Bob completed his fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. They returned to Fargo to live and raise their family.

Janet and Bob were blessed with four children, Mary (Frank) Gokey, Sarah (Steve) Underdal, Robert (Carey) Jordheim Jr., and Frank (Krista) Jordheim, and eight grandchildren, Charles and Sarah Gokey, Robby and Katie Underdal, Porter and Gus Jordheim, and Macy and Samantha Jordheim.

Janet was full of energy and vitality.She had many lifelong friends who were very dear to her.Janet had many interests and talents, including a tremendous sense for quality, design and style, especially in making a house a home.During her younger years, Janet loved tennis, golf, and jogging. Janet especially loved the time spent with family and friends at their lake cottage on Lake Melissa.She was active within the Fargo community, including organizations such as the FM Junior League, school PTA, PEO, DAR and DAC. Janet especially loved her church, Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral, and served for many yearsas a Sunday school teacher and in the altar guild.

Janet’s greatest passion and life’s work was her family. With uncommon skill, she was able to instill upon her children the importance of living a good and meaningful life.She was a wonderful and supportive mother, who never missed a swim meet, gymnastics meet, football game, or piano recital. During her later years, while her health was failing, Janetcontinually demonstrated her incredible depth and strength of character. With beautiful grace she accepted her situation with never a complaint. Janetwas and is deeply loved, and will be sorely missed. Janet is survived by her husband Robert, her children and grandchildren.

With sincere gratitude, Janet’s family would like to thank the people who helped care for her during her declining years, especially the wonderful staff at the Villa Maria Nursing Home. Your compassion and care made the last few years of her journey home easier to bear.

Memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley, www.hrrv.org or 1701 38th Street S., Ste. 101, Fargo, ND 58103-4499.

A Private Memorial Service will be held.