Janet Skabo, 80, of rural Grenora, ND, passed away Monday evening, March 6, 2017 at the Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Williston is assisting the family.

Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, Janet Fay Skabo, was born December 21, 1936, in Grenora, ND, to Raymond “Sport” and Ann Schafer. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Grenora. Janet attended Grenora Public School and graduated in 1955. During her high school years, she was a soda jerk at Teigen’s Drugstore. After high school, Janet worked at the Plentywood Telephone Company for a short time.

On June 9, 1957, Janet was united in marriage to Marvin Skabo at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Grenora. They celebrated their union with a honeymoon in South Dakota. During the first year of their marriage, they lived in Grenora and welcomed their daughter, Patricia, on their one-year wedding anniversary. They moved to Sidney, MT, for less than a year and returned to Grenora to establish their lives at the family farm north of town. Janet and Marvin were blessed with four sons: Ronald in 1960, Todd in 1966, Jeffrey in 1968, and Lee in 1971.

Janet was a member of the St. Olaf Lutheran Church, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Ladies’ Aid. She taught Sunday School and enjoyed bowling several times a week. Janet cherished her many visits to California to visit her sister, Carol. She was a personal housekeeper for numerous people for over twenty years, and many of her clients became special friends to her. She enjoyed embroidering dish towels in her leisure time. She was well-known for her homemade buns. For Grenora’s 75th celebration, she baked 100 dozen buns for the picnic. Janet always welcomed visitors to the farm with a fresh pot of coffee and homemade goodies. She was an avid Skip-Bo player and could be the only member of the Skip-Bo Hall of Fame!

In the spring, Janet always looked forward to feeding and watching her finches. As summer approached, she would plant many flowers and would help with the large garden. When the garden vegetables and apple trees were ready in the fall, Janet and her daughter, Pat, would spend many hours together canning and making apple pies and apple crisp. Janet looked forward to pheasant season each year when she could welcome many out-of-state family and friends into the Skabo farm for home-cooked meals and caramel rolls. Janet treasured the holidays, because she was able to spend time with her family. She held so much love in her heart for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and they were so fortunate to have had their Grandma Janet in their lives.

On March 17, 2008, Janet was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. She won that battle and was known as a miracle to her wonderful doctors and nurses at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. And what a miracle it was for her family and friends to be blessed with another nine years with such an extraordinary woman. During her treatment in Minnesota, Janet developed a passion for building jigsaw puzzles. From that time on, there was always a puzzle on the table, and as soon as one was finished, another one would begin.

Janet passed away peacefully on March 6, 2017, at 9:08 p.m. at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, ND, surrounded by her family. The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful care from the Valley Med Flight team and the staff at Sanford. She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Marvin of Grenora; daughter Patricia (Randy) Muse of Grenora and their children, Heather (Josh) Marottek of Medicine Lake, MT, Todd (Megan Goodrich) Muse of Westby, MT, and Chris (Alisha Kelly) Muse of Grenora; Ronald Skabo of Grenora; Jeffrey Skabo of Grenora and his children, Shelbi (Duddy Dishon) Skabo of Buford, ND, and Joel (Jasmin) Skabo of Williston, ND; Lee (Cill) Skabo and their children, Dylan, Lexi, Cole, and Jake all of Dickinson, ND; four great-grandchildren, Easton and Brooks Marottek, Adelayde Dishon, and Jackson Muse; sisters-in-law Colleen Schafer of Sartell, MN, Donna Skabo of Grenora, ND, Jane Skabo of Ahsahka, ID, and Delores (James) Holm of Great Falls, MT; brothers-in-law Allan (Carol) Skabo of Dilworth, MN, and Gary (Mary Ann) Skabo of Williston, ND; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and special friends Barb Olson of Grenora, ND, and Cleo Slaaen of Minot, ND.

She was preceded in death by her son, Todd, her parents, her twin sister Janice, her younger sister Carol, her older brother Dean, her brothers-in-law Dean, Vernon, and Donald, and her nephews Kevin Schafer, Neil Skabo, and John Skabo.