Jan Tow, 94
How do you thank someone who has given you the moon and the stars? How difficult to write an obituary when there is so much you could tell and express. Those who knew Jan will understand. Jan passed away May 29, 2021, at home after a brief illness as she hoped she would, with dignity, no fear or struggles, at peace, with her daughter and one son at her side, her other son physically unable to be there. She was tired and wanted to "go home." We thank Home Options Hospice for their comfort and kindness.
Jan was born in Minnesota and raised in Worthington by her parents Art and Emma Sather. She had a happy childhood and gave us one too. She played the clarinet and won her first golf trophy at age 14. She was always outdoors exploring more than indoors. She loved swimming and diving from high places and taught swimming and diving lessons — a bit of a show-off even into her 80s with her swan dives and jack knives. She surrounded herself by animals of all sorts most of her life, especially English setters and golden retrievers. She and Rod Tow were married and raised three children, Laurie, Scott and Dana. Jan graduated from Carlton College in Northfield, Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Science degree as a registered medical technologist and worked at Abbott Hospital in Minneapolis for many years. In 1980, she moved to a cabin on Flathead lake in Lakeside; she divorced and never remarried — she loved her independence. She volunteered leading hikes in the Jewel Basin, was a Realtor with Chuck Olsen in Kalispell and, later, in her 80s did food demo at Costco.
She loved the mountains, wildlife, bird watching and all of nature's beauty, and spent many hours hiking and countless days watching grizzly bears in Glacier and Many Glacier. Some of her favorite hobbies were fishing, reading, cooking, bridge (loved her Monday bridge ladies), golf, photography and traveling. In her 40s, she and her son Dana canoed and camped from the family home on the St. Croix River and down the Mississippi River to St. Louis — three weeks, 730 miles! She went on to travel many parts of the world on her own or with small outdoor groups. Africa was her favorite and she made three trips. For her 78th birthday she went sky-diving.
She was such a kind, pure-hearted, honest, and strong-willed woman. She lived life by the Golden Rule — so easy, so simple, and it works. She took little for granted and appreciated so much in life; she had a zest for living and the gift of curiosity. Her philosophy was always "contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have." She taught us well.
She is survived by her three children, Laurie Crenshaw (Jay) of Lewiston, Idaho, Scott Tow (Diane) of Fairmont, Minnesota, and Dana Tow (Linda) Atkins of Iowa; her grandchildren, Jason, Taggart, Amanda, Eric, Collen and Chris; and great-grandchildren; her two sisters; and her "surrogate" son and very dear friend Stephen (Monika) of Somers, who did so much for her and always made her laugh.
Our hearts overflow with reverence and gratitude to this remarkable woman, our mom.
Jan was cremated and did not want a formal service, but to celebrate her in your own special way. The family would love any memories sent to her mailing address to be forwarded to her daughter or through Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell.