Janice Kay Severn

Janice Kay Severn May 3, 1949 - Sept. 11, 2011 Janice Kay Severn went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on September 11, 2011. She was born May 3, 1949 in Twin Falls, Idaho. Jan, the second of four children born to Maurice Dean and Gladys Marie Hartruft, grew up in rural Southern Idaho. She loved horses, the great outdoors, all manner of school and other activities, and any and all social events in which she could get involved. She graduated from Twin Falls High School in the spring of 1968, and continued that fall to The University of Idaho. It was there she met the love of her life, David Ross Severn, of Boise, Idaho. They soon married on July 19, 1969. The newly commissioned U.S. Army Officer and his new bride were assigned their first duty station in Stuttgart, Germany. They spent the first three and one half years of their marriage serving their country in southern Germany, Dave as a Captain and Jan as a Department of the Army Civilian secretary. In 1972, upon completion of their military tour of duty, the young couple returned to Boise, Idaho with a few hundred dollars, their two week old son, Dodd, a brand new Porsche and lots of German Cuckoo clocks. It was there in Boise that Dave began his career as a CPA and Jan as an administrative secretary to an independent insurance agent. In an attempt to improve their financial position, they started their Amway business in February 1977. On July 7, 1978 while attending a nondenominational Christian worship church service in Spokane, Washington, they both became born-again Christian Believers. That event changed everything for the better in their lives. They continued to build their Amway Business to an even greater and larger scale. In November 1978 they had established a significant "other income" much greater than their CPA salary. Consequently they retired form the world of public accounting and began growing, expanding and creating larger business enterprises throughout and around the world. Dave and Jan moved to Spokane, Washington in 1982 with their 2 and 10 year old sons to help establish their worldwide Amway business headquarters. In 1986 Jan became an active member of the Christian Bible Study Fellowship Organization for which she served as a bible study discussion leader for the next twenty-five years. She was totally committed to this organization and became an extremely successful leader in it. Her beauty and warm soft words and conduct captured the hearts and minds of many other people. She would always "light up the room" with her sweet spirit, love, joy, laughter and happiness. Jan was a very successful business leader. She was the Executive Vice President of an international business organization. She was a blessed Christian woman and leader. She was an active member of Crossover Church in north Spokane. Her positive outward and upward demeanor together with her infectious bright smile and kind and gentle manner won many hearts to her way of thinking and believing throughout and around the world. A magnetic caring personality and real love for other people constantly drew them to her. She always made other people feel more important than herself. She truly had a Servant's Heart. Jan loved her family, her friends, and her God. She was a precious wife, a wonderful mother, a gracious and loving grandmother and a kind and helping friend to anyone in need. She never failed to perform "random acts of kindness" whenever and wherever an opportunity to do so presented itself. She will be sorely missed on this earth. We can all be comforted by knowing that for followers of Jesus Christ, death means Heaven, Happiness, and Him. Jan ended a 4 year battle against cancer at home in the arms of her loving husband surrounded by family and friends. She is survived by her husband David of 42 years; her son Dodd and his wife Renae and their 4 children Jordan, Matthew, Hailey, and James; her son Tyler; and her daughter Kacie Foos and her husband Michael Foos. Her mother, Gladys and father, Maury Hartruft. Her brother Gary Hartruft. Her brother Mike Hartruft, and his wife, Jo. Her sister, Vickie Chandler and her husband Mike. And many other nieces, nephews and cousins. We miss you so, sweet person and friend, Jan. We love you so, precious wife and mother. We look forward with great anticipation to seeing you again in heaven. A time of visitation will be held at Heritage Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 14 from 10 am to 5 pm and again on Thursday, September 15 from 9 am to 5 pm. A Funeral Service will be held at Life Center Church, 1202 North Government Way Spokane, WA at 11 am pm Friday Sept. 16th, to be followed by a graveside service at Riverside Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions Cancer Care Northwest Foundation, 5105 E 3rd, Spokane Valley, WA 99212 or online at www.ccnwf.org.