Jan Kayleen Stiver

FUNERAL HOME

Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home

632 St. Francis Street

Rapid City, South Dakota

Jan Stiver Obituary

RITTER, Ore. - Jan Kayleen Stiver, Ritter, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, at Rapid City (S.D.) Regional Hospital Hospice House after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.

Jan was born Sept. 4, 1948, in Nebraska. She was the second of four children of Joe and Adelaide Stiver. In 1953, the family moved to a farm near Oral, S.D. Jan attended grade school at Oral Community School and graduated from Hot Springs (S.D.) High School. Jan then attended Chadron (Neb.) State College, where she studied art and music. While at CSC Jan starred in the school musical, "Oklahoma."

After two years, Jan left school and moved to the Portland area. She continued to develop her musical abilities and before long she was employed by Holiday Inn Motels to tour the midwest to entertain in their restaurants. She eventually returned to the northwest and continued to sing professionally for several years.

In the mid 1990's, Jan left the hustle and bustle of the big city and moved to the Ritter area. Jan felt that God had guided her to the Ritter area where she was blessed with many friends who she loved like family. In Ritter, Jan honed her skills as an artist and was successful selling paintings and sculptures. Her work was displayed on her web site and in Hamley's Art Gallery in Pendleton. Working as an artist in residence, she taught art to students at Condon, Monument, and Long Creek schools. She loved her students and her friends at the schools.

Jan loved living in the Ritter area. She enjoyed gardening and horseback riding and helping neighbors. She shared her beautiful voice and guitar music on many occasions with family and friends and at church services.

Jan is survived by her father, Joe Stiver, Hot Springs; her brother, Mark Stiver (Jane), Worland, Wyo.; her sister, Kathy Sanders, Hot Springs; nieces and nephews, Clay Napier, Tiffany (Jeff) Piwonka, Erin Henson, Jared Stiver, Beth Stiver, Matthew Stiver and Josh (Kyla) Sanders; special uncles and aunts, Lute and Naomi Stiver and Gordon and Joan Bissell, Gary and June Rice, Gary and Mary McKee, and Shirley Whisler; and special double cousins, Randy Stiver, Gaye Cameron, Marshall Stiver and Lark Durland and their families. She also leaves behind a host of special friends including Vivian Morris, Jim and Rhonda Kennedy, Dan and Robin Herold, Casey and Kellie Schultz, Mark and Tammy West, Evelyn Roberts and many others.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Adelaide Stiver and her sister, Joy Napier. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at the Long Creek High School gymnasium. A memorial luncheon will follow services at the Seventh-day Adventist Friendship Hall.

The family will celebrate Jan's life at their Thanksgiving gathering in Hot Springs.

Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements and condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.behrenswilson.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Rapid City Journal on Nov. 7, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Jan Stiver

11 Entries

Mike Glode

November 2, 2020

Just to say...The Legacy.com approach is an interesting way to keep memories alive. I already wrote my memories, but I won't forget Jan and think of her often. Teen romances seem to live on in your head.

Sue Greer

November 14, 2010

Jan will be so missed in the town of Condon, where she contributed so much as the artist in residence for our young people. Although we only had been friends for a couple of years, I will miss her so much. We always planned to go riding up in Ritter together. Now she will be riding alongside when I go out. She was so talented in so many ways: a good soul, a giving heart and wonderful spirit. Jan - you are in my heart.

Phyllis (Barrow) Dubbe

November 10, 2010

I went to high with Jan and I remember her as being such a beautiful person inside and out!!!!! I remember her wonderful singing (the Town Criers)and guitar playing. She was a friend to everyone. Jan's family has my deepest sympathy and are in my prayers.

November 10, 2010

Jan was one of our artists in residence and we truly appreciate how she shared her talents with the young people of eastern Oregon.

Deena Heath, Director
ArtsEast - La Grande

November 8, 2010

I had come to know Jan by her Art and name before I met her. Working in the same area as an Artist and Rancher, I was eager to meet this talented lady. I came to know her better,and to call her 'friend', thru the 'in the Company of Cowgirls' Western Artshow. She was our first 'best of show' winner and so deserving of the honor. She was a great supporter of the show and worked behind the scenes the next year to help us keep it going. She was as kind a person as I have met. Very humble for such talent. She loved her Art, the friends and family that she had. Her future looked so bright, that I knew she was headed to the top! Her paintings this year of RoundUP for the 100the centennial were astounding!!! What a collection of beauty she created. So very sorry for her loss. She will be greatly missed. Denise Smith, Heppner, Or.

Laura Harsin

November 7, 2010

Jan stayed with my husband and I the past three years when she came to Condon to teach art to our students. I can't begin to tell you how blessed I feel to have had Jan in my life and how honored I am to call her a friend. She had such a kind heart and wonderful smile! We loved her and will miss her more than words can say. Rest in peace, dear Jan... until we meet again.

Mountain Blue Bird

Michelle Severe

November 7, 2010

Jan was a friend and fellow artist. We met at the first "in the company of cowgirls art show" and became friends and stayed in contact. I was supposed to go see her and her "house" she was building with the help of her brother and others. It didnt happen quick enough! I spoke with Jan in mid August about going to Pendleton, I had a place for us to stay and she was going to meet me at Ritter jct. go and check it out, I was taking art work to Hamley's. but that didnt work, I talked to her for the last time prior to R-up about going, she said she hadnt been feeling good and was about to have some tests done, and I was never able to get ahold of her again. May you rest in peace my friend, you went to quickly! I'm going to miss you! Michelle Severe

Mike Glode

November 7, 2010

Jan was one of my first girlfriends. I fell in love with her character, "Wildcat" in our highschool musical, then took her to the Prom. She was a wonderful girl, who grew into a beautiful and talented woman. We had exchanged a few emails in the past couple of years and I always hoped to see her again. We all miss you Jan, Godspeed!

Rest in Peace Jan!

Renee' Baker-Buermann

November 7, 2010

Jan was a new friend in the last couple of years. She was always, "Peaceful". It was so obvious that she had God in her Heart. She was a great Artist and A True Lady! I will miss her. Renee' Baker-Buermann, Burns, OR

Ben Roberts

November 7, 2010

There will be an empty chair at the holiday table this year, but it will be filled with loving memories.

Lisa Bissell Paulson

November 7, 2010

How I admired my cousin Jan...amazingly gifted artist and musician...not to mention tall and gorgeous! She blessed so many in her life and we are all grieving that she has left us so quickly and so soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who are grieving but certainly Jan would want us to go beyond grief to hope and belief that we will see her someday soon in an earth made new. Until that day, Jan will be in our fondest thoughts and memories. Lisa, Bob, and Joy Paulson

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