Violet Edith Jansen

Violet Edith (Miller) Jansen, 89, of Lacey, WA died Thursday October 31, 2013, at Providence St. Peters Hospital. Violet was born on March 17, 1924 in Wahpeton, North Dakota to Wilbur and Edith (Holm) Miller. She attended public school in Mission, South Dakota and graduated from Mission High School in 1942. She entered nurses training at St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Rochester, Minnesota and graduated in September of 1945. She worked for a year at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. She then returned to South Dakota and filled a need for teachers in rural schools. She taught grades four through eight in a two-room school house.

Violet married George Jansen on June 5, 1949 and moved to a farm owned by George’s father. They remained on the farm until 1955 when George decided to quit farming and enrolled at South Dakota State College and earned a degree in Civil Engineering. Violet continued to teach, attending college classes at the same time. She earned her degree in education in 1959 from Southern State Teachers College, in Springfield, South Dakota.

George accepted a job with the US Forest Service and the family moved to Bend, Oregon in the fall of 1959. They lived in Bend and Sisters until 1962 when they were transferred to Eugene, Oregon. In 1968, they transferred to Olympia, Washington. They purchased the house where they have resided for the past 44 years in the spring of 1969 in Lacey WA.

Through the years Violet worked for short periods as a nurse and a substitute teacher, she also worked for several years in the Thurston County Clerk’s office, but the majority of her life was dedicated to caring for her family.

Violet was an avid crafter and collector, her collections included Jim Beam Bottles, Depression Glass, and Snow Babies. Violet loved Genealogy and was considered to be the family historian tracing the lineages for both sides of the family for many generations.

Violet was preceded in death by her parents, and one daughter (Debra). She is survived by her husband of 64 years, George Jansen, four children, Barbara Ritchie of Lacey WA, Roberta Brooks (Guy Becken) of Des Moines WA, Dr. Edward Jansen (Kathy Kasper) of Lacey WA, Donald Jansen (Kathy) of Auburn WA, five grandchildren, Andrew, Jamie, Megan Erwin, Nicole, Corey, and a brother Dr. Robert Miller (Angela) of Windsor, CO.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 1:00 pm at Mills and Mills Funeral Home, 5725 Littlerock Rd SW, Tumwater, WA. In lieu of gifts please make a donation to the charitable organization of your choice.