Janice Darlene Nelson, 74, passed away Jan. 10, 2005, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

Janice was born Oct. 20, 1930, in Minot, N.D., to Marian and Sig Ludwig. She grew up in Kalispell, graduated from Flathead County High School and later graduated from the University of Montana in 1952. She was a member and past president of the Alpha Phi Sorority and Phi Gamma Mu Honor Society.

Janice married Richard Nelson at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kalispell, on March 30, 1957. They made Spokane their home and together raised four children. She was a resident of Spokane for over 50 years.

Janice was always active in her community. For 30 years she served on the American Heart Association at both the local level and on the Washington State board. For 25 years she was an active member of the Sacred Heart Service League, the same hospital where she gave birth to her children.

Janice was a longtime active member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church and a member of the Spokane Alpha Phi Sorority Alumnae Chapter. She served on the board of the Inland Empire Girl Scouts, was a sustaining member of the Spokane Junior League, a former member of the Spokane Golf and Country Club and was one of the coordinators of the Volunteer Aide Program at Lewis & Clark High School.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Marian and Sig Ludwig.

Janice was survived by her husband, Richard; two daughters, Juli and husband, Greg Knoebel, of Yakima, Wash., and Linda and husband, Mitch Watkins, of Twin Falls, Idaho; two sons, Mark Nelson and wife, Loris Stupel, and Jon Nelson, all of Spokane; eight grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Brian Knoebel, Ashley, Andrea, Conner and Madeline Watkins, and Andrew and Spencer Nelson. She has one brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Barbara Ludwig and niece, Kathy, of Kalispell; sister-in-law, Betty Nelson, and her son, Roger, of Oregon; and one uncle, Bud Ludvigson, of Tucson, Ariz.

A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 316 E. 24th, Spokane, WA 99203. A private inurnment will be at St. John's Cathedral Columbarium.

The family suggests that memorials be made to St. Mark's Lutheran Church.

Janice will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister-in-law, sister, friend, a Montana Golden Grizzly, and as God's faithful servant in everything she did.

Arrangments have been entrusted to Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division, Spokane, WA 99207, 509-328-2600.