Evans Funeral Home
"Compassionate Funeral Service"
Carrington and New Rockford, North Dakota
701.652.3003 or 701.947.2911
Secondary Number ~ 701.650.9937
Janice Ploium Ferry
Janice Ploium Ferry, 86, of Oberon, ND, passed away on Sunday, March 20, 2022, at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford, ND.
Janice Ploium Ferry was born September 28, 1935, to Alvin “Ollie” and Blanche Stenberg in Oberon, North Dakota. She attended one year at the Oberon School. The family moved to the Minco Valley Farm north of Hamar. Janice and her siblings went to the one room schoolhouse, Minco #1, for six years. They were enjoyable years, especially the Christmas programs. The family then made their home two miles south of Oberon. Janice graduated from the Oberon School in 1953.
Janice married Albert “Al” Ploium, Jr., September 18, 1955, at the Congregational Church in Oberon. They lived and raised four daughters in the Oberon and Sheyenne communities for 42 years. Janice and Al enjoyed going to all the dances, and listening to the Polka Party on the radio Sunday mornings. Al died June 6, 1997, after a horse accident. Janice sold the farm place and moved to Sheyenne in the fall of 1997.
Janice had many numerous jobs in her life. She was an operator for Northwest Bell Telephone in Devils Lake for three years. She cooked at the Oberon School as well as cafes in New Rockford and Oberon. Janice was a CNA at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake for many years and also at the nursing home in New Rockford for 12 years. Jan’s favorite employment was being a caregiver for the elderly in surrounding communities. For six years Jan worked at the Transitional Group Home in New Rockford. She enjoyed this very much and made many friends.
Janice married Leslie Ferry from Lakota, ND, July 15, 2000, at the United Church of Christ in Lakota. They resided at their home south of Lakota. Les liked to garden and Jan loved flowers, they enjoyed working outside together. Jan also helped Les with his schoolhouse projects one mile from their farm house. They welcomed people to stop by the schoolhouses and little log cabin and had great visits. School children would come for field trips. Janice would make them cookies, donuts and Koolaid. Les and Janice enjoyed having Open Houses with music, Jan’s donuts, and lots of visiting with friends and family.
Janice enjoyed being with family and greatly loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their activities and school programs were very important to her. She spoiled all of her family and friends that stopped in with her famous donuts which came to be known as “Jan’s donuts”. She would make donuts, pies, and bread to bring to the Farmer’s Market in Sheyenne. Her goods were sold before she could get them out of her car. Jan was also known for her homemade pancakes, some were known to eat up to 15! Jan was a good cook and always had enough for anyone who might stop in for a visit and there was always dessert. Jan loved planting flowers as much as baking and cooking. She planted flowers at her husband Al’s gravesite, where she will be laid to rest. She kept the flowers up as long as she could hauling five gallon pails of water. She rusted out the trunk from all the water she hauled throughout the years. Her car would be filled with her coffee thermos, garden tools, a weed whacker, and sometimes a push lawnmower. Her daughters Coreen and Laurie have since taken over tending to the flowers, but use water jugs with lids. Jan planted flowers wherever she lived.
Janice is survived by her husband Leslie Ferry; daughters: Coreen Johnson (Jeff), Kim Christianson (Phil Caldwell), Laurel Westby (Neil), and Amy Emmel (Bill); stepsons: Merle Ferry (Deb), Mark Ferry (Terri), Scott Ferry (Julie); sister Sharon Nelson (Dwight); brothers-in-law Lester Roberts, Kenneth Ploium (Eloise), Arlie Ferry (Marilyn), and Virgil Ferry (Mary); sisters-in-law Marlene Stenberg, Cheryl Franklin (Marvin), and Donna Garske; grandchildren: James Johnson, Justin Johnson (Cassandra Deal), Kyle Christianson (Miranda), Kelli Nelson (Dylan), Mallory Westby (Dustin Anton), Erin Cochran (Paul), Scott Westby, and Levi Emmel; great-grandchildren: Grace, Ava and Jacob Christianson and Sutton Cochran; step-grandchildren: Stacy Anderson (Chris), John Ferry, Evan Ferry (Mariel), Katie Landen (Jon), Adam Ferry, Shawn Ferry, and Christy Ronningen (Tim); step-great-grandchildren: Alex Anderson, Jones Ferry, and Lakin, Keaten, Teagen, and Camden Ronningen; and many nieces and nephews.
Janice is preceded in death by her husband Albert Ploium Jr.; parents Alvin and Blanche Stenberg; brother Dale Stenberg and his wife Hazel; sister Jacqueline Roberts; beloved brother and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. Janice is loved and will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Memorials can be given to the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Janice’s Visitation will be Sunday 1:00-5:00PM followed by a Prayer Service at 5:00PM all at Evans Funeral Home, New Rockford.
A Funeral Service will be held Monday, March 28, 2022 at 2:30PM at First Lutheran Church, Sheyenne, ND.
Her Burial will be at the Hillside Cemetery, Oberon, ND.
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I always enjoyed visiting with Janice and I can vouch that her donuts were the best. May all of your wonderful memories spent with her help you through these difficult days.
As a teenager, I was able to help Janice prepare for a Homemaker’s meeting at her house, which absolutely could not be rescheduled even though she had just severely injured her hand from having a horse drag a rope across it. 😳 Plus, she had a new baby at home—Coreen. Great experience for a 13-yr old, changing both bandages and diapers—and still she persisted. Always bounced back from anything life threw at her.
Janice was a good friend of our family and I loved visiting with her
and Less when I saw her. Many memories of the family!
Janice was a wonderful lady I enjoyed many times visiting with her, Albert and Les. Janice and Albert took me in as a God child after I lost my God father Uncle Sherman in 1968 . Janice will be greatly missed and prayers for the family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family through this difficult time. God bless you all.
My condolences for the loss of Janice, she was a wonderful lady. Thoughts and prayers to all the family in this difficult time.
Our sympathy to the family. What a great lady! I never had the doughnuts but I had a lot of her other goodies at the Oberon School! Lunches were so good. She was such a hard worker! She’d have a day’s work done by the time she came to school. She always had such a big smile. She will be missed but I can imagine all of you have great memories of her.
Send love and prayers in the loss of your mother. Janice. Loved to visit with her.
Laurel and Family
Prayers are with each and every one of Janice’s family members
at this time of transition.
Nicole Chenze and family
Kathy Lesmeister and family
You have our sympathy. We are unable to come to the funeral but you are in our prayers.
Janice was a kind, generous lady. Her laughter & smile filled the entire room. She & Al were so good to me & my kids. I’ve always been so grateful to have them in our lives. Prayers & sympathy to Janice’s entire family.
I have fond memories of the Ploium and Stenberg families from my years of teaching music at the Oberon School. I am sorry that you lost Janice. You are in my thoughts and prayers. L. Gary Anderson
Sorry for your loss. My mother, June Burkland, was a good friend of Janice.
Our thoughts are with you in this time of sorrow.
What a sweet lady. She will be missed.
Janice will be missed. Condolences to the families.
Our deepest sympathy on your loss. Janice was always wonderful and she raised wonderful children so through them, she will always be here. She was so kind. We will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers.
So sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Praying you find comfort and peace in cherished memories and the love and the love from family and friends.
Sorry for your loss, she always had a smile and a twinkle in her eyes. Thoughts and prayers for all during this difficult time.
So sorry for your loss. Janice will be greatly missed! Thoughts and prayers! She always and a great smile and such an infectious laugh!
Ploium girls, I remember when your Blanch and Janice worked in the oberon cafe and my mom worked with them it was always a hoot, between our moms. It was nice visiting with you Laurie a couple weeks ago. Sorry i was not able to attend but you are in my thoughts and prayers today. xoxo
Just heard of Janice’s passing, it brought back memories of her cooking in the kitchen at Oberon school! My first 2 years of teaching! Delicious! Oh the memories of visiting with her! Sympathies to all of you!Keep those memories fresh in your mind!
Our condolences for your family! She was always a friendly face when I worked with her for 12 years at 4th Corp. Such a hard worker! She had such a warm heart for others. She will be missed!! ….especially her cooking! God Bless her!!