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Janice Horton Plessas, 71
Jan. 4, 1946-July 20, 2017
Janice Horton Plessas, 71, originally of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on July 20 in Butte, where she lived since 1971. Her gentle soul will be missed as Heaven gains another angel.
Janice's birth was front page news in the little town of Ida Grove, Iowa's Courier Newspaper. She was born January 4, 1946 to Verle and Genevieve Horton. Her parents moved to St Paul, Minnesota when her father took a job as an accountant there. Her mother had been a teacher in Iowa and became a career teacher in Minneapolis. Jan did very well in school. She won a American Exchange scholarship that led her to spend the summer before her senior year of high school living with a family in Brazil. Throughout her life she loved learning about the world. Janice received her elementary education at Hancock Elementary in St Paul, Minnesota, which she was pleased to find was designed just like the McKinley School in Butte where she taught for 16 years. She graduated from Mounds View High School and the University of Minnesota.
She taught in Foster City, California for three years before coming to Butte, Montana.
Her love of teaching came in part from her sincere interest in each individual child. She honestly enjoyed learning herself and modeled that. Her favorite age to teach was 5th grade, recognizing the expanding worlds of each child. She knew how much children enjoy simply listening to their teacher read so she read aloud at least one book new to herself each year. When she’d ask the class what they thought might happen next, they liked that she didn’t know the outcome either and it made it an adventure the class shared.
She felt being a good teacher was her own way of parenting but she delighted in being aunt and godmother to her niece Anne. She was the best aunt any child could wish for. She closed the distance between Butte and St. Paul. When long-distance calls were still something of an adult-only pleasure, she’d call Annie for mega-one-to-one time, each relating their days’ or weeks’ adventures. When Annie’s mom tried to help the conversation from the background, Annie covered the speaker and archly told her, “I’m talking to Aunt Jan.” Lesson learned. Jan taught Anne that her aunt was always present for her, always on her side.
Janice lived a compassionate, optimistic and loving life and was kind and empathetic to everyone. She had an everlasting smile and a bright outlook. These qualities contributed to her success as an exemplary teacher for her students at McKinley, West Elementary, Margaret Leary, and Whittier. She enjoyed planning exciting and interesting lessons and she loved her students, her job, and her fellow teachers. And she was loved by them.
She eventually discovered her true calling and favorite profession: Grandmother of eight darling grandchildren.
Janice met her perfect partner, Don Plessas in November of 1991. The soul mates were married Feb 23, 1996. They worked together on their Real Estate business for eight years after retiring from teaching. They both enjoyed exploring various places and took trips to Germany, Greece, Italy, Cancun, Saint Martens, Hawaii and many of the states in America. They also enjoyed the past eight winters as snowbirds in Arizona and California. She was an excellent swimmer and enjoyed bicycling and walking.
Her high school friends were friends for life. Despite their scattering across states, they found ways to be together, to share both the fun and the troubles of adult life. They loved and supported one another.
Janice was a beloved wife, stepmother, sister, aunt and grandmother. She will be forever missed and her memories will be treasured.
Janice is preceded in death by her parents, Verle and Genevieve Horton and her husband’s parents, Don and Katie Plessas and her special grand-dog, Paris.
Janice is survived by her husband, Don Plessas Jr., daughter and son-in-law Kimberly and James Vo, daughter Kirby Plessas, daughter and son-in-law Kristin and Matthew McLeod, son and daughter-in-law Darrell and Maelyn Plessas, son and daughter-in-law Dale and Jackie Plessas, son David Plessas, son and daughter-in-law Demitri and Ashley Plessas, sister and brother-in-law Beverly and Bruce Johnsen, grandchildren Kaitlyn Plessas, Kennedy Plessas, Emily Plessas, Kaden McLeod, Alexis McLeod, Bailey McLeod, Riley Vo, Dante Plessas and soon-to-be baby Plessas, niece and nephew-in-law Anne Kaintz and Michael Peterson.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning, July 25th at 10 AM in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home with Deacon John Uggetti officiating. Entombment of ashes will follow in Mountain View Cemetery and a reception will follow in Wayrynen-Richards Community Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Butte Food Bank, Montana Public Radio or Montana Public Television. The Plessas family wishes to extend a special thanks to PA Keri Ferguson and all of the doctors and nurses who have been so helpful and caring. Express condolences at www.wayrynen-richards.com
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Jacci C. Stahl (Krebsbach)
A gentle soul with a beautiful smile - that is how I will always remember Jan
James S. Marchand
I remember her as a very smart student at MVHS and a person whose smile could light up any room.
Kristin M. Stavnes (Traughber)
Jan was my "very best friend" from second grade. We shared many of our passages through life, keeping in contact throughout our adult years. I miss her already.
Claudia S. Carley (Droel)
Very sorry to hear this news. When I think of Jan, I always think of her wonderful smile. She will be missed.
William A. Koentopp
I recognize Jan as a diamond, glinting in the sun, to keep her in mind as a splendid and precious friend.
Diane Goserud (Anderson)
Jan, my heart is broken! You lit up the room with your smile and twinkling eyes... a friend who emanated calm and kindness. The sun shines a little less bright now! Rest in peace, dear friend.
Sherry A. Turner (Oleson)
Jan was such a beautiful person in so many ways! Coming to MVHS as a senior, Jan made me feel very welcomed! I remember fondly that we double dated for the senior prom! Her warm personality, big smile, and concern for others will not be forgotten! Jan was the best friend you could have! My life was blessed having known Jan through the years. I will miss her very much!
Mary M. Gebhard (Harper)
Jan was a dear friend for 56 years. We had many adventures together as we headed to California following getting our teaching degrees in Minnesota. We were roommates for three years while team teaching at Audubon Elementary School in San Mateo. We never lost touch even though she moved to Montana. My husband and I visited her in Butte and we always saw each other when together in Minnesota and Palm Springs. Her laugh and smile always lit up the room and she has left us with many happy memories. We miss you, Jan.
Diane Goserud (Anderson)
At Janice's funeral, Jan & Don's son, Dale (representing all their children) gave this eulogy for Janice. (Janice took on 7 children and with her love made them hers. Four were already in college or beyond and away from Butte, but even they came under her true loving nature. They are all thankful that they had her unselfish love for over 25 years.)
This is from all of us, including our siblings that weren't able to make it but send their love - Kirby, David, and Demitri.
We do not have the right words to describe Jan, to describe what she means to all of us. Jan willingly took on a family with seven kids...she blended in well and made sure each of us felt special and loved. Even the most surly teenager could not compete with Jan's sweet disposition.
Jan and Dad had the most amazing love. They were always gentle and thoughtful towards each other and put each other's desires and feelings first. They had their own interests, but they never let those interests separate them from each other for long..We don't think they spent more than a few days apart since they were married in 1996. We are so grateful she came into Dad's life, and into ours. She always introduced us as her kids, and we felt like we were.
Kirby wasn't able to be here, but she wanted to make sure to add some special memories. Some of her fondest memories of Jan were traveling in Europe together with Dad, through northern Italy, Rome and Greece. At the end of each night they would share their favorite parts. Jan was a curious person and ready for anything. They rode ferries and battled hoards of mosquitoes in Greece, ate gelato on the Spanish steps in Rome, and watch cyclists race in Verona. Kirby will forever treasure those memories.
She was a wonderful grandmother. Jan was very involved in each of her grandchildren's lives. Even though she didn't get to see them as much as she would have wanted, she managed to make their time together special and somehow fit into each visit enough love and attention to make a week or so feel like a year of love.
The grandchildren loved spending time we Jan, and Jan always had special activities planned...and managed to fit in some learning at the same time. Some examples include painting rocks, jewelry boxes and bird houses, making aprons, hats, gingerbread houses, and ooey gooey cookies. She taught them about birds, bugs, pinecones, rocks, and flowers. She always had great recommendations for books to read and things to do.
She was always there for her grandchildren. She dropped everything to be at their side during the time of crisis. We hope our children have learned kindness and gentleness from her and will grow up to be sympathetic and thoughtful to people. We were honored to have her as a grandma for our children.
Jan was very special to us and we miss her greatly. We love you Jan!
Jeff Poehler
I didn't know Jan in school, but before the reunion she volunteered to be trained in as one of the demonstration partners for the dance lesson at our 50th. She learned all the dance moves quickly, including many that we never taught at the reunion itself for lack of time. She had the knack, and really enjoyed it. An old saying is: You can tell a lot about someone in a short time when you dance with them. At the group lesson and then at the reunion gatherings, I experienced Jan as a joyful, positive, creative and caring person who seemed to spread sunshine at every opportunity. I feel lucky to have known her even briefly, and I can see the good that she was and did in the world will live on inside all who knew her, and inspire us to try to do likewise. As we grieve the early loss of our classmates, we face the eternal question: Why did they have to leave us so soon? Hopefully it can teach us to deeply appreciate each day we classmates had together, and will have together. My heart goes out to Jan's family and friends.