Janice "Jan" Thomas

1942 - 2025

Janice "Jan" Thomas, 83, Valley City, ND passed away September 23, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society Center in Oakes, ND while under the care of CHI Home Health and Hospice. There will be visitation at the Lerud Mathias Funeral Home in Valley City on Tuesday, September 30 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Her funeral will in the funeral home chapel on Wednesday, October 1 at 10:30 AM with an hour of visitation prior to the service. Burial will be in the Havana Cemetery, Havana, ND around 1:30 that afternoon. The funeral service will be live streamed, then archived, on a link provided along with her obituary on her tribute page at www.lerudmathias.com.  An online guestbook is available there as well.

Janice (Arneson) Thomas was born August 7, 1942, in Britton, SD, to Orvey and Velva Luella (Moe) Arneson of Havana, ND. She was raised on a farm near Havana and graduated from Havana High School in 1960.

She married Jay Thomas in 1978. They lived in Oakes, ND, for many years before finally settling in Valley City in 1997. She enjoyed serving others and was a CNA at both Oakes Good Samaritan Society in Oakes and the Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City. She retired in 2020.

Jan enjoyed time with her grandkids, baking, crocheting, and playing cards. She also enjoyed playing accordion and listening to music. She loved spending time with her family and friends.

Grateful for having shared her life are her loving husband, Jay Thomas; her children, Scott (Dar) Jahnig, Lori (Alan) Hayenga, Mark (Jennifer) Jahnig, Marty (Angel) Jahnig, Abilene (Nicholas) Manasakis, Dallas Thomas, and LaDawn (Joe) Rodine. Janice is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death are two of her children, Charlie Jahnig and Shanda Jahnig; her parents; two brothers, Harlow Arneson and Dennis Arneson; three sisters, Shirley Schneider, Marilyn Voss, and Diane Meyer; and an infant brother, Charles.