Janet Staples

Janet (Jan) Kay Staples, 67, of Moses Lake, Wash. passed away due to a stroke on Nov. 19, 2025, at the Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash., surrounded by family and friends. 

Janet was born in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. Growing up, Jan was involved in sports, track and music. She participated in many church activities for youth and was confirmed at United Lutheran in Brocket, North Dakota. 

Jan also helped on the farm doing field work, driving trucks, mowing grass and tending to the chickens. 

Jan was proud of saying “I am 100% Finnish.” She definitely had SISU which is a Finnish word for “strength and courage." 

Jan graduated from Valley City State University in North Dakota with a double major in music and education. She was married to Mike Kuklok and they had four children together. They moved and lived in several different locations, including England, during Mike’s work with the government. 

Janet later met and married Scott Staples in Idaho Falls, Idaho, but lived out her final years in Moses Lake, Wash. For the past 10 years, she was an active, serving member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. She was an active member of both The Fraternal Order of Eagles and The Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, where she just received the Elk of the Year award. She also belonged to the local American Legion and senior center. She participated in the local Parkinsons group. She loved bowling, playing darts and other games with friends. Janet loved music and playing the piano and was a member of the Bell Choir. 

Even though Janet lived with advanced Parkinson's and arthritis for more than 12 years, she never used that as an excuse for not living and loving life to its fullest, as witnessed by her numerous friends and family members. 

She is survived by her husband Scott Staples of Moses Lake as well as her children Jennifer Kuklok, Nicholas Kuklok, Rebecca Kuklok, Daniel and Samantha Kuklok and grandson Weston and stepchildren Angela Curbo and Kayla Wilcox. Siblings Susan Foster, Joyce Carter and Kevin Erickson also survive her. 

Janet was preceded in death by her parents Reino and Ruth Erickson and her siblings Barbara, Raymond, James, Nancy, Peggy and Keith. 

Memorial services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1020 A St. in Moses Lake on Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. There will also be a celebration of life to follow at the Moses Lake Eagles Lodge that same day at 1 p.m.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Parkinson's Foundation in her honor. She was an active contributor.

Janet’s remains will be buried at a later date in the Erickson Family plot in the Finnish Cemetery near her hometown of Brocket, North Dakota.