Janet Wentz

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Wentz Janet Wentz, 66, of 505 8th Ave. SE - Minot and longtime North Dakota State Legislator and current Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives died September 15, 2003, at her home. Janet Marie Neff was born July 21, 1937, at McClusky, North Dakota, the daughter of Charles G. and Martha (Schindler) Neff. Janet graduated from McClusky High School in 1955 and continued her education at Westmar College, LeMars, Iowa, the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and Minot State University. Janet married Thomas A. Wentz on February 6, 1957, at Harvard Epworth Methodist Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts. While living in Cambridge, Janet was employed as a church secretary and as an assistant secretary to the Dean of the Harvard Law School. A Minot resident since 1962, Janet served in the North Dakota House of Representatives in a political career that spanned four decades. First elected in 1974, Janet served in 15 consecutive legislative sessions. She was Chair of the House Judiciary Committee and sections of the House Appropriations Committee, and, since December 2002, she was the Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives. Janet was active in many organizations. She was an officer and director of the International Peace Garden, an active member of the United Methodist Church on the local and conference levels, a life member of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society, and a member and officer of numerous local organizations. She is survived by her husband, Thomas A. Wentz; three children and their spouses: daughter Elizabeth and husband John Loder of Dedham, Massachusetts, daughter Karin and husband Mark Otness of Edina, Minnesota, and son Thomas A. Wentz Jr. and wife Susan of Minot; and eight grandchildren: Thomas and Stephen Loder, Karl and Peter Otness, and Haley, Hanna, Charles and Harper Wentz. She is also survived by her five brothers: Vern Neff (wife Nita) of Williston, Donald Neff (wife Audrey) of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Harold Neff (wife Lois) of Bismarck, Robert Neff (wife Bonnie) of Hendricks, Minnesota and Richard Neff (friend Wanda Brown) of Spokane, Washington. Janet was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister Dorothy Ostrom. Funeral Service Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in Vincent United Methodist Church - Minot, with her brother, the Reverend Robert Neff, and her pastor, the Reverend William Bates, officiating. Interment Rosehill Memorial Park - Minot. Visitation Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot. Memorials are preferred to the Minot State University Foundation or the Vincent United Methodist Church Foundation.

Published on September 16, 2003