Janette Dale

Janette Clare Rustad was born on October 26, 1919, the treasured only child of Anna J. (Guberud) and Carl J. Rustad, in Fargo, ND. Her family lived in Cartwright, ND where her father died two years later. Janette spent the remainder of her childhood, raised by her mother and grandmother, Malena Guberud, in Kindred, ND. Janette demonstrated an early ability in music and began playing the clarinet, piano and violin. She won many county music contests in instrumental and vocal music and played in the Kindred Juvenile Band beginning at age 9. While attending Kindred High School, she was active in choir, band, drama, basketball and declamation speech. She graduated in 1937. She attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where she studied home economics and music. She sang in the Concordia Choir, directed by Paul J. Christiansen, and played clarinet in the band. She was also active in the Lutheran Student Association of America, elected to regional secretary and helped organize national conferences. During the summers, she taught bible school in Edmore, New Rockford, and Binford, ND. She graduated in 1941. After graduation, she was given a teaching position in home economics in Elmore, MN. In 1942, she accepted a position as the Wadena County Home Demonstration Agent. While working in St. James, MN, she met Otto L. Dale, who was in the Navy. They were married in the Appleton Memorial Chapel at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, on May 19, 1945. Janette accepted a position as Dean of Women and held a faculty position teaching clothing construction at the University of Tampa where Otto was completing his degree. In 1946, they moved to Minneapolis, MN, so Otto could attend Luther Seminary. While there, Janette directed a women's choir. She continued to direct choirs, hold leadership roles in Lutheran women's organizations, participate in 4-H activities and teach piano lessons while meeting the demands of being a pastor's wife. They served parishes in the following communities: Milbank, SD 1949-51; Minneota, MN 1951- 1954; Thief River Falls, MN 1954-59; Sarasota, FL 1959-61; Fergus Falls, MN 1961-76 and Glenwood, MN 1980-87. During those years, she was also busy parenting their 7 children: Stephen born in 1947, Gregory born in 1949, Joan born in 1951, Evonne born in 1953, Bradley born in 1956, Catherine born in 1957, and Rolf born in 1961. She taught the girls to sew and all of the children to cook. Janette's passions included her faith, the importance of family, her Norwegian heritage, nature, sewing, cooking, flower gardening, bird watching, and especially, traveling. She loved adventure and the challenge of taking her large family on cross-country car trips. She assisted in organizing 9 tours of the Holy Land, with side trips to Egypt, Greece and Rome. She and Otto also traveled to Europe, Scandinavia, Mexico, Canada and all 50 of the United States. She helped organize several family reunions in the Guberud family. She sewed beautiful clothing and cooked delicious meals, which she continued well into their retirement years in Denver, CO. Our beloved mother left us on January 17, 2011. She was preceded in death by her husband who died on April 21, 2005. She is survived by her 7 children, 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Her memorial service will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN on May 22, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. Memorials can be sent to Rolf Dale, 10343 Federal Blvd., #J149, Westminster, CO 80260 Local arrangements are being handled by the Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.