Janice Vikan

1925 - 2018

Janice Vikan

Visalia - Janice Vikan, 93, a longtime resident of Visalia died Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018.

She was born Orel Janice Shaner, July 6, 1925 in Westhope, ND to Clarence & Hazel (Wood) Shaner.

She was confirmed as a member of the First Presbyterian Church,Westhope. She moved with her family to Bottineau, ND during her teens, graduating from Bottineau HS in 1943. She attended Moorhead State Teachers College in Moorhead, MN.

On April 29, 1945 Janice married Virgil Vikan at the First Lutheran Church in Bottineau.

After marriage they lived in various states, moving with military assignments. Later they lived in Kansas City, MO where she worked at the Hallmark Cards Hdqtrs. while Virg attended watchmaking school, followed by two years in Storm Lake, IA before returning to Bottineau, ND where they spent the next decade. They were members of the First Lutheran Church during those years. In June 1959 they moved to Visalia, CA.

Janice was a wife, mother of three girls, and like many of her era, a homemaker. Her specialty was baking sweets; she was a great seamstress, enjoyed a variety of crafts, and had a talent for decorating and making a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

She is preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Hazel (Wood) Shaner and a brother, Vern Shaner.

Survivors include her husband of 73 years, Virgil Vikan; 3 daughters: Sherry (Gerry) Reid of Costa Mesa, CA, Pam McClurg of Fresno, CA, and Faye Vikan of Visalia, CA; 2 granddaughters: Lisa Reid (Dave) Huettl of Boise, ID, and Kim Reid of Aliso Viejo, CA; 2 great-grandsons: Reid Huettl and Shane Huettl; 2 half-brothers: Dr. James Shaner of Cathedral City, CA and Don Shaner of St. Paul, MN; plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Condolences may be mailed to: Virg Vikan, 4119 W. Walnut Ave., Apt. 210, Visalia, CA 93277