LaVancha Jansen was born July 24, 1932 to Simon Oscar and Amy Luella (Dahl) Maasjo in Fingal, ND at home on the farm. During her childhood she wanted to dance like her sisters and on January 18, 1939, bumped her ankle quite hard. The next day it was so painful she stayed home from school and in two more days it was so unbearable that Dr. Nesse told her parents she needed to go to St. Luke’s in Fargo. She ended up with a very serious bone infection and spent seven weeks in the hospital. This was all happening prior to penicillin being widely available. LaVancha spent years on crutches and going to doctors but miraculously they managed to save her foot, but it was a half size smaller the rest of her life.
Most people in the Valley City area know her through the different banks where she worked. After high school she worked at Montgomery Wards and then applied at one of the banks in town. The bank president asked her, “LaVancha Maasjo, are you related to Ole Maasjo?” “Yes,” she replied, “he’s my grandfather.” “Well,” the bank president said, “if you’re related to Ole Maasjo then I’ll hire you.” The rest of this banking story goes on for the next 46 ½ years.
LaVancha married Merle Jansen on June 8, 1952. They tried for years to have children, but none were to come. Then by some miracle 9 years into their marriage, LaVancha became pregnant and Jay was born March 28, 1961. But the doctors warned them that they were not to try having more children as the next one would be the death of her.
Merle and LaVancha started their married life living in a tiny travel trailer in the back yard of Merle’s parents’ home in Valley City. They built a house on the lot next door and lived there until they bought land and built a new home south of Valley City on the Kathryn road in 1972. They farmed the land, raised cattle, pigs and chickens. Jay raised hundreds of rabbits! After retiring they started downsizing and let the neighbor farm the land. In 2010, they sold the farm and moved back into Valley City. The house was smaller, newer and more importantly ABOVE the flood plain! LaVancha was scared to death of being in or on the water and walking with waders through four feet of water got her excited but not in a good way.
Merle, after being diagnosed with cancer, died October 20, 2015. LaVancha continued to live in their home for another year until she fell and broke her arm. A move to Legacy Assisted Living was a new adjustment she survived and in time became her new “home”. She absolutely loved it there! Good food, good friends, good times. Her apartment looked just like home. Her son Jay and his husband, Jeff, always made sure the apartment was decorated for any given holiday. Christmas was her favorite time of the year and the decorations took up half of her entire closet!
When she fell and broke her hip in August, it became necessary to move to the nursing home. The staff absolutely adored her. LaVancha always had a smile to brighten their day and was the “happiest” resident on the third floor.
December 6, she had another serious fall and fractured part of her pelvis, ultimately, this was her undoing and she passed away six days later with her son holding her hand sitting at her bedside.
LaVancha and Merle are together again with all their friends and loved ones, and now she can remember ALL of their names. Someday we’ll be there too, what a reunion that will be!
LaVancha is survived by her son, Jay and his husband, Jeff Ware of Fargo, ND; her only remaining sibling, Geneva Martin of Gig Harbor, WA; and only remaining in-law, Bernice Russ (Merle’s sister) of Cordell, OK; along with numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Simon O. and Amy L. (Dahl) Maasjo; her husband, Merle; two sisters, Barbara and Delphine; and one brother, Donald.
The funeral service for LaVancha A. Jansen, 86, Valley City, ND will be Monday, December 17, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Faith Lutheran Church, Valley City. Visitation will be held the hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Memory Gardens near Valley City in the spring.
Lerud-Mathias Funeral Home in Valley City is assisting LaVancha’s family with arrangements. An online guestbook is available at www.lerudschuldt.com