Janice E. Kraft

Janice E. Kraft, 70 of St. Michael, ND passed away on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Father Paul Schuster celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in St. Michael’s Cemetery.  Gathering of family and friends will be at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 beginning at 4:00 p.m. with a Rosary, Scripture Service and time of remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Janice Elaine, daughter of Vernon “Bud” and Gladys (Swenson) Erickson was born on January 5, 1947 at Devils Lake, ND. She grew up in the Warwick area and graduated from Warwick High School with the class of “1964”.  Janice married her true love, Paul Kraft on June 5, 1965 at St. Michael. A life together of love and laughter, devotion to each other and to family. They began their married life at rural St. Michael, in a home, started from a boxcar in a carved out place, on some wooded land.  As family grew, so did the boxcar as they added one addition after another through the years.   Janice’s life was that of devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother and always a woman with a generous and caring heart for family, friends and stranger. Along with raising her own family, she loved to babysit her grandchildren and many other children in the extended family.  Her “caretaker” heart was a blessing to many.  Her mother lived in one of the additions to the family home for many years and shared in the beautiful atmosphere of love and kindness Janice strived for.  Janice’s skills in the kitchen were remarkable. She could make “anything” into a gourmet feast.  She was a talented decorator and made many wedding cakes and other special occasion cakes for family and friends.  No matter what time of day or night, no matter the number of visitors to the farm, there was always something to eat, a good cup of coffee and good conversation, and a tale or two from Paul. Hence the nickname “Betty Crocker”. Janice not only served a grand meal at her kitchen table, she also served up some good advice, a listening ear, a problem-solving plan with her “kitchen table analysis”. She always was concerned for other needs and wanted to help anyway she could. Family and friends knew that Janice would stay by that phone, have the coffee ready until everyone she knew and loved was taken care of, home safe and sound or problem solved.   Janice, our beautiful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and dear friend and neighbor. Our cheerleader, caretaker and counselor.  We will miss you always and love you forever. Janice is survived by her children Tim (Lisa Chaske) Kraft, Lora (Joe) Papachek all of St. Michael, ND, Sue (Scott) Klemetsrud and Steve (Michelle) Kraft all of Devils Lake; grandchildren Jayden Kraft, Katie (Dillin Tufte) Papachek, Kelsey Papachek and Connor McKay; step grandchildren Jerah Chaske, Joshua Porras, Trenton RunsThrough, Keeley RunsThrough, Xavier Porras, Xander Porras, DelRay Demarce Jr., Bethany Klemetsrud, Brittany (Preston) Zornes, Brooke Klemetsrud and Blake Klemetsrud; step great grandchildren Jerren, Jerico, Francis and Oliver; siblings Jim (Marilee) Erickson, Cavalier, ND, Shirley Klefstad, Austin, MN, Sheila Williams, Northwood, ND, Bev Haman and Lee (Gerene) Erickson both of Hillsboro, ND; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Louie I. and Claudia Kraft, St. Michael, Pauline Kenninger, Cooperstown, ND, Sandy Kraft, Devils Lake and Helen and George Klemetsrud, Cole Harbor, ND; many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Paul on October 5, 2014; brother Don Erickson; brothers-in-law Jerry Haman, Stuart Klefstad, Leo Kraft and Allen Kenninger; nieces Krista Erickson and Nevada Tiokasin; in-laws Lambert and Katherine Kraft.