Janet M. (Hallberg) Kloster

Janet Marie (Hallberg) Kloster, 82, of Willmar, died Saturday, January 16th at Bethesda Grand.  A family service will be held at Green Lake Free Lutheran Church with interment in the church cemetery.  Funeral arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar.  www.hafh.org

Janet Marie Hallberg Kloster was born to Esther and Roy Hallberg on November 3rd, 1938. She grew up on their farm with her brother, Don, and sister, Yvonne. She attended Kandiyohi Whittier School until eighth grade and then went to Willmar High School – graduating in 1956. She remained close friends with several high school classmates, and they continue to call themselves the “56ers.” Janet then worked at the Willmar Public Library and drove the bookmobile (one time, even driving it in the ditch!).

She married Dean Kloster on September 10, 1960, and, together, they ran a dairy farm in rural Atwater. They raised two children, Kristin and Jill. Janet and Dean farmed for many years and became close friends with several neighbors. Janet raised calves and helped Dean with the milking until his death in 1999. Janet continued to live on the farm, tending several gardens and mowing her huge lawn on her tractor.

Janet was very active at Green Lake Lutheran Church. She served as secretary to the pastor, faithfully typing each Sunday’s bulletin. She was a member of the Women’s Missionary Society and Sewing Circle, and she taught both Sunday School and VBS. She also organized the church’s annual Spring Luncheon, held each year on Mother’s Day weekend. She had a unique sense of hospitality, generosity, and faith – bringing joy and happiness to other people.

She loved spending time with her family. She hosted many gatherings at her farm, wonderfully decorating her house with her Christmas, 4th of July, and other seasonal quilts and wall hangings. She cooked delicious meals, artfully decorating the table as part of each meal. Janet was also a formidable Scrabble player and Up and Down the River player; she frequently won.

Diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 1996, Janet was a survivor for nearly twenty-five years. She fought the disease with tenacity and good humor. She refused to let it slow her down, attending all her grandchildren’s sporting events, plays, concerts, graduations, and weddings.

She is survived daughters, Kristin (Eric) McIntyre and Jill (Mark) Jensen, and grandchildren: Alexander, Nicholas (Gabriella), Kayli, Leah (Ben), and Carter, brother, Don (Darlene) Hallberg, brother-in-law, Werner Maule, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dean, her parents, Roy and Esther, and her sister, Yvonne.

The family would like to thank the many people who supported Janet while living at the farm and Bethesda, including: Mark and Diane Kalkbrenner, Betty Paulson, Darlene Bratberg, Sylvia Thompson, Marlys Jensen, Mike and D’Lynn Pickle, Sandra Finstrom, Elaine Stulen and her Green Lake Lutheran Church family, the Bethesda nursing staff, and many others. Janet loved many and was loved by many in return. She will be missed.

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