Janet Wilken

Janet Wilken, age 71 of Osakis passed away on Friday, March 25 at her home in Osakis after a brave battle with cancer.
Janet was born on June 22, 1939 in St. Louis Park, MN to parents, Genevieve (Gibson) and Roy Lea, Jr. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith on July 30, 1939. Janet attended school in Coon Rapids and Anoka. On July 31, 1965 Janet was united in marriage to Leland Wilken in Elk River, MN. When the Wilken's moved to the Osakis area, Janet went to work for the 3M Company in Alexandria and was employed there for twenty years. She was a member of Osakis Lutheran Church and taught Sunday School. Janet was also a member of the Alexandria VFW Auxiliary and the Community Memorial Home Auxiliary.
Some of Janet's favorite hobbies included knitting and crocheting. She loved to decorate and tend to her flowers. She also loved her pets. Janet was a strong woman who always put her family first. She loved being with her grandchildren and taking care of her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandma and sister who will be dearly missed.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Leland Wilken of Osakis; children, Daniel (Sherrie) Wilken of Villard, MN, Susan (Dan) Howard of Glenwood, MN and Michelle (Nathan) Nyhammer of West Fargo, ND; 8 grandchildren; 7 great, grandchildren; brother, William (Addie) Lea of Bismark, ND; mother-in-law, Eleanor Berdahl of Princeton; special cousin, Barb Gilbertson and special friend, Rita Winters.
Janet is preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Judith Lea.
Memorial services were held for Janet on Tuesday, March 29 at 2:00 pm at the Osakis Lutheran Church in Osakis with Rev. Ron Calvert officiating. Organist was Pat Converse and soloists were Brook Wilken and Dana Hetland. Honorary pallbearers were her grandchildren, Jessica Kloos, Sarah Eblen, Miranda Lorentz, Jacob Wilken, Brent & Terrance Holmgren, Mitch & Christopher Nyhammer.