Janet Marie Halvorson

Janet Marie Halvorson, 76 of Wichita Falls passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Monday, October 28, 2019 at the home of her son and daughter-in -law in Pasadena, Texas.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Riverside Cemetery in Wichita Falls with Chaplain Starkovich Forster, officiating. For those wanting to go in procession to the graveside, the family suggests meeting at the funeral home, 1317 9th St. Wichita Falls at 1:30 p.m.  Celebration of Life will be held later that day at 6:30 p.m.at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1417 11th St, Wichita Falls, TX 76301 with Pastor Rick Cody, officiating, followed by a dinner at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Owens and Brumley Funeral Home of Wichita Falls.

Janet was born on July 16, 1943 to the late William and Dorothy (Bump) Vandeberg in St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she grew up, worked at the Faust Movie Theater and graduated from Mechanical Arts High School. While attending high school, she met the love of her life, Selmer “Sam” Halvorson. The couple married on June 8, 1963 at Faith Lutheran Church in St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her husband, Sam proudly served in the United States Air Force. Being a military couple, they were stationed in several locations, including Reece AFB in Lubbock, Texas, where the couple were blessed with two children, Steven and Brenda. The family was transferred to Craig AFB in Selma, Alabama, and stationed there for 10 years. While living there, she developed her skills and passion in making ceramic arts. Also, being members of St. John Lutheran Church, she taught children Sunday school for many years. Lastly, the family moved to Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he retired. The couple spent many years together before Sam’s passing on September 19, 2008. In her 43 years in Wichita Falls, Janet worked for a nearby day care and later at Howmet. She was member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she taught children’s Sunday school for many years. Janet never lost the passion and skills for ceramic art, but later developed the same for canvas and wood painting. She was a strong, resilient, and beautiful woman, that loved her family and friends dearly. She enjoyed collecting costume jewelry and purses, finding the perfect comfortable shoes and watching Hallmark movies.

Janet is survived by a son, Steven Johan Halvorson and wife, Jennifer Renee of Pasadena, Texas; a daughter, Brenda Lynne Gonzales and husband, Joe Anthony of San Antonio, Texas; two grandchildren, Ryan Patrick Halvorson and Victoria Elise Gonzales; five brothers: Thomas Vandeberg, Charles Vandeberg, Leonard Vandeberg, Dennis Vandeberg, and David Vandeberg; and one sister, Kathleen Taylor.

Janet taught a bedtime prayer to her children in which, Mom will always be remembered by:

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, and if I should die before I wake, I pray to God my soul to take” Amen.

The family suggests memorials  may be made to St.Paul Lutheran Church, 1417 11th st. Wichita Falls, Texas 76301