Janice Ulferts

Janice Ulferts, age 82, of Willmar, passed away Wednesday, April 12, at Prairie Senior Cottages in Willmar.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18, at the Church of St. Mary.  Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, April 17, at the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.  Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Bernardette Janice Ulferts (Woosley) was born on June 18, 1940, to Bernard and Gloy Woosley in Herington KS.  Even though she was named after her father, they had always planned to call her Janice and sisters Joyce and Jennifer later joined the family.  She accepted God’s hand on April 12, 2023. 

At age 16, Janice was working at a Dairy Queen type restaurant, when she met a tall military guy from Fort Riley, Kansas.  His name was Mike Ulferts.  She told us girls, how she wished she didn’t meet him, because she knew she would marry him.  She was too young with college dreams.

On Valentine’s Day 1958, Mike asked Janice to marry him.  They married after her high school graduation on May 31, 1958.

Janice and Mike lived in Hope, Kansas.  On weekends they hunted mourning doves.  Christine joined the couple.  In 1960, the little family moved to Dawson, Minnesota and that’s when Connie joined the family. Another move to Willmar added Cecilia and Cathleen.

Janice worked various jobs until she started working at the Willmar Community College – Ridgewater College.  She worked in the financial aide department from 1971 to 2003.  If you went to Ridgewater and received financial aide you probably met her.  She handed out a lot of money.

Janice loved giving back to her community and friends.  She was part of a coffee group, craft group and a strong friend group.  She was a Girl Scout Leader, member of the Honkers Snow Mobile, E-Z Riders and Eagles Snow clubs – she helped with their races.  When Mike was involved with auctions, my Janice ran the food truck.  She also worked with prisoners to help them get their GED’s and volunteered at the Shelter House and Habitat for Humanity.  Janice served on the Fairview Cemetery Board as a secretary for many years and also as secretary for their Good Sam’s Group and the Sundance Park in Arizona.

Her proudest achievement besides her family and friends was being awarded a Who’s Who among Students in American Junior Colleges (for outstanding merit and accomplishment as a student at Ridgewater College) and getting her college degree in 1998!!

Janice will always be remembered for her kindness and how welcoming she was to new people and adventures.  Some of her last words were: “God is good for me”, “I love you like I always do” & “Thank you for coming”.

Janice leaves behind her loving husband of 64 years, Mike Ulferts; three daughters, Christine (and Tracy) Bruns of Willmar, Cecilia Golden of St. Paul and Cathleen Ulferts of Derby, Kansas; and five grandchildren, Andrew Brower, Sean Chapin, Alex Chapin, Sam Stenson and Madeline Stenson.  Also surviving are three sisters-in-law, Dar (and Marv) Koch, Lori Sandberg and Karen (and Gerry) Stiemsma; and one brother-in-law, Darrel (and Shirley) Ulferts; besides many beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Gloy Woosley; one daughter Connie Ulferts; and two sisters, Jennifer Gerhardt and Joyce Kern.

The Family would like to express their deepest appreciation to hospice nurse Chelsea from CentraCare along with all the staff at the Prairie Senior Cottages for your amazing care of Janice.