Janet Gay Richels

Janet Gay Richels was born on January 2, 1949, in Park Rapids, Minnesota, to Melvin F. and Kathleen (Johnson) Larson. She attended grade school in Hubbard and graduated from Park Rapids High School in 1967. After high school she attended Bethany College of Missions in Bloomington, Minnesota, where she studied for four years. She spent a year in missionary service in Puerto Rico on her internship. After graduating, Janet joined the Bethany staff and served faithfully for a number of years. After her time at Bethany, she worked at several other places, including Teen Challenge, and was always appreciated for her integrity and enthusiasm.

In 1976, she married Larry Richels and they were blessed with a daughter, Andrea. She was a wonderful mother to their lovely daughter. Janet was an accomplished seamstress and loved to help others with their sewing projects. She was also an excellent gardener and shared her skills in the communities where she lived. Janet made her home in Bloomington until failing health brought her back to the Park Rapids area. She died December 16, 2023, at the age of 74, at her brother’s home on Long Lake, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents and all of her aunts and uncles. 

She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Andrea, of Bloomington; five siblings: Marilyn Goffin of Hubbard, Charlotte (Sid) Kimball of Osage, Melvin (Janet) Larson of Park Rapids, Ramona (William) Dahlberg of Park Rapids and Joseph (Kelly) Larson of Bowlus, MN; many loved nieces and nephews; and special friends: Alec and Joanie Brooks, Bob and Birdie Laframboise, Diane Dahlen, Mike and Jan Critchfield, and many other friends. 

Services will be held 11 AM Saturday, December 30th at the Grace Community Church in Osage. Rev. Paul McKibben will officiate, and Rev. Alec Brooks will deliver the message. Visitation will begin at the church at 10 AM on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Janet's service will be live-streamed and can be accessed by clicking the following https://www.gracechurchofosage.com