Janice Beal

Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary 2060 Commerce Drive, North Manakto, MN 56003 507-388-2288 A gathering of friends and family to celebrate the life of Janice Beal, age 78 of North Mankato, formerly of Spirit Lake, Iowa will be held Wednesday July 1, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary. A second visitation will be held Thursday, July 2, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, Iowa from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Janice Kay (Longman) Beal was born on the family farm in Lytton, Iowa to Ivan and Velma (Woehl) Longman. She grew up on the farm with a younger brother, Paul and graduated in 1954 from Lytton High School. After high school, Janice attended the Iowa State Teacher's College (now UNI) to earn a two year teaching certificate. On August 19, 1956, Janice married Raymond Beal and a real love story began. Janice was a 2nd grade teacher in Evansville before the couple moved Schleswig where she was a stay at home mom with her first daughter, Teresa. In the summer of 1959, the couple made their home in Spirit Lake, Iowa. They had two more children, Gary and Nancy. In 1968, Janice started her first in-home preschool, called Little Lakers Preschool. Later on she and her co-owner, Rhea Sybesma expanded Little Lakers and started a daycare and preschool in a red four bedroom house that was licensed for 52 children. In 1994, Janice finally retired after a long career of caring for children and enjoyed traveling with her husband to Mazatln, Mexico and Destin, FL. Janice loved to play cards and board games and played in numerous bridge clubs. She had a contagious personality, full of selfless love and quick wit. Janice spent many hours on West Lake Okoboji fishing with her husband, Raymond. She loved to also visit her daughter on Long Lake in Fergus Falls. Above all, Janice loved being a wife, mom and "Grandma Jan" to her eight grandchildren. Janice Kay Beal died June 29, 2015 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato surrounded by her loving family. She will be greatly missed by her family; including her husband, Raymond Beal of Mankato; children, Teresa (Don) Ashworth of Fergus Falls, Gary (Laura) Beal of Riverbank, CA, Nancy (Robert) Karkoska of Mankato; grandchildren, Braden (Kylie) Ashworth, Taylor Ashworth, Lauren Beal, Alyssa Beal, Emily Karkoska, Katherine Karkoska, Zack Beal, Grace Karkoska; brother, Paul (Nancy) Longman of Lenexa, KS; nephews, Eric (PJ) Longman and their sons, Jackson and Alexander and Scott (Crystal) Longman and their daughter, Ramona.