After a life of love and quiet grace, Janet Mehlhaf, 72, has passed.
These words are offered in her memory — small, but heartfelt.
The story begins in 1943, with the arrival of a life that would be cherished by many.
The lessons of a parent travel forward, often without their name attached.
Janet Kaye Mehlhaf, 72 of Hurley, SD died Sunday, July 3, 2016 at Dougherty Hospice House, Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be at 10:00am Thursday, July 7, 2016 at Zion Reformed Church, Menno, SD with burial at the Hurley Cemetery. Visitation will be with family present from 2-4pm on Wednesday at the Hofmeister Jones Funeral Chapel in Hurley. Visitation will resume at 6:00pm with a Prayer Service at 7:00pm Wednesday evening at the church. Janet Kaye Mehlhaf was born on October 17, 1943 at Huron, SD to Edwin and Lora (Orth) Bauer. Janet was baptized and confirmed by Rev. Elmer T. Wilhelm at the Bethlehem Congregational Church in Alpena, SD. She graduated from Alpena High School and Stewart School of Hairstyling in Sioux Falls. On February 16, 1969 she was united in marriage to Harley Mehlhaf at Bethlehem Congregational Church in Alpena. They moved to a farm northwest of Hurley where she lived until she entered the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home in Viborg for the past 10 months because of health reasons. Janet was a farm wife and raised her three children, Kent, Heidi, and Lisa. She worked as a waitress in the cafe at Parker and Hurley for 5 years. She cooked many noon meals for the hired help on the farm until her health started to fail. She was a member of the Zion Reformed Church in Menno. Grateful for having shared her life are her husband Harley; a son Kent, Hurley; 2 daughters Heidi, Corsica, SD and Lisa (Daren) Lindeman, Parkston, SD; 5 grandchildren, Morgan, Elias, Sadie, Grace, and Tori; 2 sisters, Jo Ellen Kempf and Bonnie (Charles) Gibson, all of Mitchell, SD; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother in law Raymond Kempf.
