Janice "Jan" D Givan

The funeral service for Janice 'Jan' D. Givan, 97, of Aberdeen, S.D. will be at 1:00 on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 South Main Street, Aberdeen, S.D., with Paul Darling of the Aberdeen Church of Christ officiating. Burial will take place at Groton Union Cemetery. Visitation, with family present, will be at the funeral home on Tuesday from noon until the time of the service.

Jan passed away on Friday, March 8, 2024 at Avera Mother Joseph Manor in Aberdeen.

Janice D. Hurlbert was born on October 22, 1926 to Archie Lee Hurlbert and Alberta Jane (Beach) Hurlbert at her paternal grandparents' farm home located outside of Raymond, S.D. She and her older brother, Merrill, traveled by horseback or buggy to attend school in Raymond. When her family moved to a different farm during her high school years, she lived with her maternal grandmother in town for the school week and went home to the farm on weekends. Jan enjoyed life on the farm and the animals they cared for, most especially the cats. Her enthusiasm for furry creatures was life-long, and everyone who knew her also knew of her great fondness of cats in particular. She remained on the farm for a time and helped her parents, then later moved to Aberdeen where she worked in the kitchen of St. Luke's Hospital and also at the Sands Motel. After moving to Aberdeen, Jan became a member of the Aberdeen Church of Christ, and there she met her future husband, Robert Lee Givan.

Jan and Robert were united in marriage on October 20, 1979 and made Aberdeen their home together. Robert died on August 12, 1999. Years later, Jan moved to Nano Nagle Village and then to Avera Mother Joseph Manor. Throughout her life, Jan had a close relationship with the Lord. During earlier years in Raymond, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, its Ladies Aid, and taught Vacation Bible School. Later, as a member of the Aberdeen Church of Christ, she cherished being a part of that congregation and participating in its fellowship and activities, including worship services, Bible studies, and workshops. Attendance at a church workshop held in Bismarck, N.D. was a particular highlight for her. In recent years, as a resident of Nano Nagle Village and Avera Mother Joseph Manor, she also regularly attended worship services there. Jan delighted in spending time outdoors and especially enjoyed seeing the leaves change color in the Fall. She liked to take walks and, even well into her nineties, covered many miles both indoors and also around the grounds of Nano Nagle Village and Avera Mother Joseph Manor. She was always eager to take part in the variety of other activities offered there, as well. Reading was a longstanding favorite pastime, and she also had fun playing the games of Bingo and Skip-Bo. Formerly, she had enjoyed participating in functions at the Aberdeen Senior Citizens' Center, particularly the "mystery tour" bus trips. In younger years, she did quilting with her mother, embroidered, and played the piano. Jan was a people person who liked to visit and be with others. She loved little children, and they loved her. She treasured her relationships and greatly enjoyed time spent with family and friends. She had a spirit of optimism and was quick to smile. Being in her presence always meant being immersed in her sweet and gentle kindness and in her appreciative and caring ways.

Grateful for having shared Jan's life are her niece, Marsha Hurlbert Bullis; nephew, Lee (Jane) Hurlbert; great-niece, Megan (Luke) Hannemann and their daughter, Perry; great-nephew, Ross Hurlbert; cousins; and friends.

Preceding Jan in death were her husband, Robert; parents, Archie and Alberta Hurlbert; brother and sister-in-law, Merrill and Peggy Hurlbert; nephew-in-law, Greg Bullis; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The funeral is being handled by Spitzer-Miller funeral home where they have an online registry at www.spitzerfuneralhome.com .

Furness Funeral Home is posting as a courtesy to the family and also have an online registry at www.furnessfuneralhom.com .