Janette Faye Minehart Yaeger

Janette Yaeger, 86, literally died with a smile on her face as a pastor was talking/reading about the "ruach," a Hebrew word which roughly translates to "breath of God" or “to be filled with spirit.” She died of kidney failure while receiving hospice care from Altru Heath System while living at Parkwood Senior Living with her family at her side. Janette Faye Minehart Yaeger was born in Mitchell, S.D., to the late Winnie (Fairley) and Russell G Minehart on Aug. 15, 1930.  Her family moved to Avoca, Minn., when she was 3. She loved growing up in a small town with her four siblings. She also lived in East Grand Forks; Minneapolis; St. Paul; Presque Isle, Maine; Orono, Maine; Gallup, N.M.; New Port Richey, Fla.; and McLaughlin, S.D.  She graduated from Slayton (Minn.) High School in 1948, and went on to Hamline Asbury School of Nursing in St. Paul.  She became a registered nurse in 1951 and continued until her retirement in 1996.  Her dream was to become a public health nurse, so she attended the University of Minnesota and earned a degree in public health nursing in 1956. She graduated with honors and worked in public health nursing in Minnesota, Maine, North Dakota and South Dakota. She was especially fond of maternal and child health. She worked many years for Polk County Nursing Services based out of Crookston, Minn. Her last 12 working years were at Standing Rock Reservation, where she said she came to respect the Native American culture and its people. Janette loved sewing and sewed most of her children’s clothes when they were growing up. Janette also volunteered as a “reading lady” in her grandson’s classes while he was in elementary school. While living in Maine, Janette and her husband took Naomi and Charles camping just about every weekend, yet the family was in church every Sunday. Christmases for the family were especially magical. Her children remember her as cheerful. She usually had one funny story to tell her husband at the end of the day.  Janette was active in the church all of her life. She had fond memories growing up as her mother played the piano and she and others would stand around the piano and sing from the Methodist hymnal. As a young woman (before 1960) living in East Grand Forks, she taught Sunday school to 5th and 6th graders at First Methodist Church (now Wesley United Methodist) in downtown Grand Forks.  Whenever she and her husband and children moved, she immediately found a Methodist church for them to attend. As she advanced her career, whether a Methodist church was in the town was a huge factor in making a move. She served on numerous committees at the church. Including serving as United Methodist Women president for two years, overseeing the Prayer and Self-Denial event, teaching senior high Sunday school, playing in the bell choir, working in the quilting group, supporting the Heifer project and the Solar Oven Project for Haiti.  She also traveled to Haiti to provide mission service.  Janette said being a mother was the best job she ever had. She was preceded in death by her former husband, Earl C. Yaeger; a sister, Helen Mae Minehart Olson; a brother, the Rev. James Alvin Minehart and 2 infant nephews, Stephen & Andrew Olson. Survivors include her son, Charles Yaeger (Terri) of Grand Forks; daughter, Naomi Yaeger (Terence “Terry” R. Larson) of Duluth; former son-in-law Bryon Bischoff of Grand Forks; grandchildren Rebecca Bischoff of Duluth and Matthew Yaeger of Grand Forks; brothers, the Rev. Gordon (Sara Jane) Minehart of Woodbury, Minn., and George (Bette Jean) Minehart of Marshall. Minn., and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. Janette donated her body to science. Memorials may be made to the Solar Oven Partners. http://www.solarovenpartnersumc.org/