Blodgett, Janice Elaine 81 6/20/1927 3/31/2009 Janice Elaine Blodgett, 81, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2009, surrounded by her loving children, at her daughter Diane's home in Beaverton, where Jan lived for the past five months. She was a devoted and loved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to all who knew her. Those who were fortunate enough to know her will sorely miss her kindness, warmth, generosity, wit and delightful smile. She was born on June 20, 1927, to James Beith and Lena Maud Goodall in Erie, N.D., where she was raised. She was preceded in death by her brother, Jim, and her sisters, Mildred, Lois and Margaret. Jan was a farm girl with a love of nature that continued throughout her life. Jan married Phillip Iverson, an Army career man, in the Erie Methodist Church in 1952 after which she became a military gypsy and the mother of five children. She is survived by her three daughters, Ann Iverson, Betty Iverson (Lisa) and Diane Iverson; and her two sons, David Iverson (Morgan) and Dennis Iverson (Maggie). Jan is also survived by her grandson, Jack Piper Iverson; her granddaughter, Lucinda Iverson; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones. Jan worked as a registered nurse in Army hospitals and later after her husband, Phil, retired from the military, she worked for many years as a registered nurse in the Veterans Administration hospital in Salt Lake City. After retiring from the VA hospital, Jan and her second husband, Leonard Blodgett, moved to Hurricane, Utah, where she spent the majority of her retirement years. In August 2007, Jan moved to Reno where she lived for the next couple of years at the Promenade on the River. She made many new friends in Reno and continued to enhance the lives of the many people who had the pleasure of meeting her. Jan lived life to the fullest and continued her love for travel and adventure, visiting Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, France, Spain and Switzerland and several states in the United States. Often her travel involved her children and spending time with them was an essential part of her life. She had many pastimes, which included, authoring a book about her family history, attending church, singing in the church choir, playing bingo, attending cultural events and in recent years, eating cupcakes with her grandson, Jack. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. June 20, 2009, in the First United Methodist Church, 209 W. First Street, Reno, NV 89501. Her family would like to thank Legacy Hospice for their kind and loving care in the final days of her life. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to help other families in need of home hospice care to Legacy Foundations, P.O. Box 4484, Portland, OR 97208; 503-413-6955.

Published in The Oregonian on 4/7/2009