Janice D. Russell

Janice D Russell passed away August 11, 2014 at Legends Assisted Living Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho at the age of 83. She was born and raised in Stockton, Calif. After the war she married Doug Russell, a young veteran. They started a family of three in Stockton. Jan and her young family headed north to the Seattle area, where she worked as a cook at a retirement home while she and Doug worked toward their dream move to Rathdrum, Idaho where they had purchased land on which to build an A-frame house and a sawmill. Jan worked hard in the family sawmill on Hwy 53 for three years while the family built their house. Next she kept the family gas station on Hwy 41 running smoothly until they sold the business and opened Lakeland Upholstery in their home. Once the last of their three kids graduated from Lakeland, Jan and Doug traveled to Western Samoa for two years, where Jan helped teach and cook at the local school. Upon their return Jan and Doug purchased and operated the Kamloops Club in Sandpoint for 13 years, where they made many friends. Jan was excellent at needle point and knitting. She operated the Scandinavian Yarn Shop on Cedar St. in Sandpoint for many years, where she was well known in the knitting circles. Jan and Doug have always been cat lovers. She and Doug had four cats that were the core of her love for cats and one nice doggie. They would never turn away a stray cat. Doug was on kidney dialysis 3 days a week his last five years and Jan was right there to take care of him and keep their life normal. Jan was an amazing fishermen, both fly and lake fishing. She is a proud member of Lake Pend Oreille 25# Club. Jan and Doug had a large boat which they named "Pearl" after her mother. Jan is survived by step-son Rick Azevedo, Sacramento Ca; daughter Lane J Russell, Sandpoint ID; son Greg Russell (Kathy) Coeur d'Alene ID; son Mark A Russell (Nikki) Nine Mile Falls, WA; and foster son Ben Krause, Blackfoot ID. Jan has 8 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, especially Larry (Sue) Smith and Curtis Smith of Hope ID and her special sister-in-law, Ella Vizena of Danville CA. A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 1pm at Coffelt Funeral Home 109 N Division St. Sandpoint ID 83864. Donations in Jan’s honor may be made to Panhandle Animal Shelter in Ponderay.