Janal 'Jan' J. Carlson, 78

Janal "Jan" J. Carlson, 78, a lifelong educator and musician, passed away peacefully from complications due to cancer Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Jan was born July 30, 1929, in Choteau, the fifth child of Carl F. and Ella Eidem Carlson. She attended school in Choteau, graduating from Teton County High School in 1947, where she was active as a cheerleader and participated in many activities, excelling in music and art.

Jan attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., for two years and Western Montana College, where she received her bachelor's degree in education in 1951. Jan taught elementary school in Great Falls, Sacramento, Calif., Oakland, Calif., Ronan, Ferndale, and finally the Bigfork School District, from where she retired. Jan also worked as a social worker for a Lutheran church in the Bay area of California.

She also cared for her mother, Ella, and ran a small cherry orchard at Yellow Bay on Flathead Lake.

Jan was an accomplished pianist and spent many years singing with the Kalispell chapter of the Sweet Adelines. She is also remembered for her many artistic talents and generosity of spirit to all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

She was the best "Aunt Jannie-Pan" and friend, and will be missed by many who loved her.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Donald Carlson; and a sister, Margaret "Peggy" Carlson Julius.

Jan is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Marge Carlson, of Choteau; brother, Robert "Bob" of Fairfield; nephew, R.F. "Sam" Carlson of Fairfield; nephew, Jim and wife, Martha, of Seattle; niece, Candy (Julius) and husband, Roy Trenoweth, of Carson City, Nev.; niece, Deb Carlson and husband, Pat Saylor, of Choteau; and four grandnieces, Tricia Trenoweth and husband, Jeff, Tracy Trenoweth of Carson City, Julianna Carlson of Seattle, and Devann Saylor of Choteau.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Fairfield.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to any organization involved in any way with education of young children or music.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.