Janice Gravdahl

Janice Adeline Johnson Gravdahl was born to Carl and Clara (Brown) Johnson on November 18, 1941, at Anderson Maternity House in Pequot Lakes. She grew up at her family’s resort, Pine Point, on Lower Hay Lake where in addition to helping with running a family housekeeping resort she was able to enjoy the company of kids from different families from Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota that would spend 1 to 4 weeks vacationing there every summer. Jan started school in Jenkins and later Pequot Lakes when the districts consolidated. She graduated valedictorian of her class in 1959. She attended Bemidji State Teachers College and graduated with honors in 1963. After her marriage to Dave Gravdahl they moved to the Twin Cities where she went to work at IDS Corporation working in the PR Department. Later that year there was an opening for a teacher in the business department at Edina High School, so she applied with 200 other applicants and got the job. She also applied to Minnehaha Academy and was offered a position there also. After starting a family Jan left teaching for a couple years and then took a position at Golden Valley Lutheran College where she taught until moving to Breezy Point. After a year Jan went back to teaching in Pequot until her retirement. The last 20 years Jan and her husband, Dave, have lived in Pequot Lakes.

Jan is survived by her husband of 56 years, Dave; son, Dan (Tina); daughter, Carla Plourde; grandchildren: Ashlee Plourde, Zack Plourde, Joslyn Plourde, Cade Gravdahl; and brother, Lee (Kathy) Johnson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Clara Johnson.

Janice’s family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Ataro, the nurses on the 3rd floor at Essentia St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd and Good Samaritan Hospice.

Private family services will be held.