Janet Myra Pals

Janet Myra Pals (nee Bell), age 72, died peacefully at her home in Pine City, MN on October 28, 2011 after a long struggle with ovarian cancer. Janet was born on April 6, 1939 in Robbinsdale, MN to James and Olive Bell. Eventually, her parents divorced and along with her 4 siblings (Ellen, Si, Martha and Gary), she grew up in Pine City, MN.  While attending high school, she was active with cheerleading and making lots of friends.  With her shy but bubbly personality, she made friendships that lasted a lifetime. She met her future husband, Gene Pals from Rush City, at a Pine City high school football game and remembered seeing the handsome teenager at Rush City’s roller rink.  A year or two after, she eloped with Gene to Iowa and was married on December 19, 1956. They started a family in Pine City with children Bruce, Kelly and Kaye.  Then, Gene’s job with Peoples Natural Gas took them to Dodge Center, MN and Kasson, MN where children Julaine and Jason were added to the family.  She worked outside the home occasionally at the Dairy Queen in Dodge Center and later at the Mantorville court house.  Gene’s job returned the family to Pine City in 1970 where she gained additional friends while working at Pine City's First National and Washington Federal banks. Janet loved to do yard work, learn new things, visit with friends and family, try new recipes, clean, organize, decorate, sew, do crafting, read and bird-watch.  Her grandchildren and great grandchildren made her light up with pride and joy.She will be deeply missed by her husband, Gene;  children, Bruce (Denise) Pals;  Kelly Pals;  Kaye (Bill) Lindig;  Julaine (Chris) Ricard;  Jason (Erika) Pals;  grandchildren, Claressa (Kelly) Gorman, Coreen Pals, Jennifer Pals, Cody Pals, Stephanie Lindig, Tim Lindig, Allison (Joe) Abbott, Alayna Ricard, Katrina Ricard, Maia Pals, Aaron Pals; great-grandchildren, Kaden & Kallen Gorman and Brandon Abbott;  sisters, Ellen (Ron) Hawkinson, Martha (Fred) Pals;  brothers, Sy Bell, Gary (Linda) Bell and other relatives and many friends.A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 2nd at the First Lutheran Church of Rush City.  (1000 South Jay Ave.)  A Memorial Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 1st from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Swanson Funeral Chapel in PIne City and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.