Janet E Gronhovd

Janet E. Gronhovd, age 79 of Grafton, ND, passed away on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at the Altru Hospital of Grand Forks surrounded by her family.

Janet Spenst was born November 27, 1941 in Langdon, ND, the daughter of the late Jake and Esther (Hill) Spenst.  She grew up and attended a one room school house in Osford Township, Cavalier County, graduating from Alsen High School.  She then attended Lake Region State College in Devils Lake.  Following her education, she began working as a bank teller in Devils Lake.  She was united in marriage to Norris Gronhovd on June 3, 1966 at the Swiss Mennonite Church in Alsen.  The couple lived and farmed near Nekoma.  She worked at the Maple Manor Nursing Home in Langdon from 1982 until 1987 when the family moved to Grafton, ND.  She received her Dietary Management certification through correspondence course and she worked as the Dietary Manager at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton until retiring in 2017.  She ran a seasonal baking business called Janet’s Cookie Jar for many years.

She was a member of Nekoma Lutheran Church and later of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Grafton and served as the WELCA President and on the Church Council.  She enjoyed sewing, quilting, baking and spending time with her grandchildren.

Janet is survived by her children: Elroy (Michelle Myhre) Gronhovd, Brush Lake, ND, Arden Gronhovd, Nekoma, ND, Luann (Louis Tian) Gronhovd, Rwanda, East Africa, and Sharon (Shawn) Kasprick, Grafton, ND; 8 grandchildren; brothers: Bennet (Audrey) Spenst, Langdon, ND and Jay (Nancy) Spenst, Ephrata, WA; as well as several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Norris in 2015, and brother Dale Spenst.

Funeral services will be Monday, December 28, 2020 at 10:00 AM at the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Grafton.  Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church.  Social distancing guidelines will be followed and masks will be required.  Interment will be at the Highland Cemetery of rural Fairdale, ND.