Visitation and a light brunch will be from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2023, at East Chain Evangelical Free Church. Those wishing to view the service may do so on the following link, https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/7123120429. Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Janice Friend Brucks was born Sept. 28, 1931, in Vinita, Okla., to Erma Lea Stokes Friend and Joseph Freeman Friend. The youngest of four children, she and her siblings moved with their mother to San Antonio, Texas after Joe died. Jan always complained that she missed “handwriting” as she got to skip second grade because of the move. She acquired a wonderful step-dad who became a pastor. After graduating from Jefferson High School, she went to business school. She was honored to work in the fancy Milam building downtown. Jan met Arlie Brucks of Hondo, Texas, in 1949, but didn’t marry him until he returned from the service on July 2, 1954. She worked as a “steno” and secretary while Arlie went to college and retired when he finished his engineering degree. They lived in Long Island and Rome, N.Y., Dallas, Pa, Los Angeles, Calif. and Washington, D.C. During these early years, Jan gave her life to Christ during a personal Bible study one evening. Not long after settling in Fort Worth, Texas, they welcomed Cynthia into their family.

Jan’s life was spent homemaking and serving others. She was always the greeter, the VBS and nursery organizer, “house-church” host, meal deliverer to shut-ins and driver of elderly people to medical appointments. She was a super mom and involved in every detail of Cyndi’s life, as well as terrific travel planner when the family lived in Belgium. Jan and Arlie enjoyed RVing and polka dancing, and jitter-bugging around the country for 7 years. In 2003, she finally became a grandma at age 72 when Cyndi married Dale. In 2015, Jan (Granny) and Arlie (Grandpa) moved to Fairmont, Minn. to live out their golden years near the Jensens. Jan was ready to be with Jesus the day she entered Lakeview Healthcare center on April 18 and entered His loving arms on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

Left to cherish Jan’s memory are her husband of 68 years, Arlie; daughter, Cyndi (Dale) Jensen; grandchildren, Brandon (Christina) Jensen, Brian (Tashina) Jensen, Brady (Chloe) Jensen and Elijah Jensen; cousin, Leah Anderson and John Knotts of Okla.; nephew, Larry (Sharon) Graeber of Texas; and nieces, Cheryl (John) Dow of Miss. and Melissa Friend of Louisiana. www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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