Jeanne Van Malsen, 94, Hills, died Sunday, July 19, 2020, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.
A funeral service was Monday, July 27, at First Baptist Church in Luverne. Burial was at East Side Cemetery in rural Steen.
Roma Jeanne Lyons was born May 23, 1926, to Robert and Faye (Donaldson) Lyons in Albany, New York. At age 4 she moved to Pipestone and later graduated from Luverne High School.
Jeanne married John Van Malsen on Feb. 1, 1945, at the Steen Reformed Church in Steen. They lived briefly in Luverne before moving to Hills. Jeanne and John shared many years together. They especially enjoyed gardening and canning. John died on April 9, 2012. Jeanne continued living in their home until she entered the Tuff Memorial Home in 2015.
Jeanne was a member of First Baptist Church in Luverne and the Hills American Legion Post No. 399. She loved sewing and provided seamstress services to many. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, fishing, boating, snowmobiling, roller skating and being a beautician. She was known for her cakes and pies. She especially enjoyed playing with her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her son, Gary Van Malsen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; her daughter Sheryl “Shari” (Grant) Matthews of Delano; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law, Michael Petersen of Hatton, North Dakota, and Robert Johnson of Humboldt, South Dakota; a sister-in-law, Kathleen “Kaye” Lyons of Westminster, Colorado; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Van Malsen; three children, Barbara “Bobbie” Petersen, Susan “Susie” Johnson and Kevin Van Malsen; a grandson, Tony Matthews; a great-grandson, Patrick Leonard; two brothers, Nolan and Dale Lyons; and a sister, Ardyth Scholze.
Arrangements were provided by Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills, jurrensfuneralhome.com.
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