Janet Lee

Janet Marion Lee, 93, Jamestown, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on January 2, 2013 at Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

Janet Marion Buscho was born December 15, 1919 in Wells, Minnesota, to George G. and Lenora Buscho. The family, along with her sister Carol, moved to nearby Blue Earth in 1926 where Janet attended school, graduating in 1937. Janet then enrolled at Macalester College (Saint Paul) graduating in 1941. Janet took her studies seriously. She ranked third of her high school class of 52 graduates and received top ten honors for consecutive years while at Macalester. She was also a featured flutist with the Macalester band during concerts with the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra. While at Macalester, she was an elected member of Pi Phi Epsilon, the college's honorary fraternity, and she completed her biology major early, graduating 'cum laude'. During this time, she also studied at the University of Michigan's biological field station at Douglas Lake, Michigan. It was here that she developed a lifelong interest in wildlife (especially birds) under the guidance of renowned ornithologist Dr. Olin Pettingill. In 1941, Janet also began successful experimentation with soil-less tomato growing receiving statewide recognition.

After college, Janet taught high school biology at Odessa, Minnesota and later taught science and math at Willmar, Minnesota. She also assisted her father in his Faribault County auditor's office for a number of years.

On November 8, 1952, Janet married Forrest B. Lee in Blue Earth. They resided in Saint Paul and White Bear Lake, Minnesota where two sons were born (Forrest Jr. 'Chip', and George). In 1965, the family moved to Jamestown, North Dakota when her husband transferred from the Minnesota DNR to the newly opened Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.

Janet became a stay at home mother and wife who took great pride in her family. She occasionally filled in as a substitute teacher and was active with Methodist Church functions. Having never driven a car didn't stop her from getting out and doing things. A very detailed person, she was always on top of her family's affairs.

In 1977, she accompanied her husband for a summer working on Amchitka Island in Alaska. After her husband's retirement in 1983, she continued to assist him with typing and correspondence while he did contract work with Russian and Japanese biologists. Family trips to Minnesota, reading, writing, and bird watching were her favorite past times. Janet continued to be the best mother one could hope for.

Janet is survived by her husband, Forrest, Jamestown, and two sons, Forrest Jr. 'Chip' (Joan), Eden Prairie, Minn., and George (Virginia), Bismarck, ND; four grandchildren include Jami (Jeff) Gunville, Minot, ND, Carina Taylor (Chris), Fargo, ND, Amber Spooner (Brent), Bismarck, ND, and Tim Baumann (Jenny), Duvall, Wa; and ten great grandchildren. She is also survived by her nephew Don Nordmeier (Maxine), Morristown, Minn. Janet was preceded in death by her parents George G. Buscho and Lenora Buscho, one sister Carol Nordmeier, and one nephew Ernest (Jr.) Nordmeier.

Funeral Services - 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 7, 2013 Haut Funeral Home, Jamestown.

Visitation - 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home and will continue one hour prior to the Monday service.

Private Family Burial - (spring) Riverside Cemetery, Blue Earth, MN.