Janet Winona Habener, 80, made her transition to eternal life in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006.
Janet was a bright spot in the life of all those she touched. With a sparkle in her eye, wit, humor and endless energy, she met each stage of her life.
Janet was born in McCall, Idaho to Cal and Ida Frances on Dec. 3, 1925, and was raised in Oregon. She graduated from Grant Union High School in Seneca, Ore., where she was a drum majorette for four years. After high school, Janet worked in the shipyards in Portland, during World War II where she met her future husband. She married Leslie Habener in Rainier, Ore., on Jan. 26, 1946, after he returned from the war. She and Leslie moved to Billings where they raised their family and spent most of their married life.
She worked as a waitress at Esquire Fine Foods and O'Hara's Restaurant, and she loved her work because she loved people. As a young wife, Janet belonged to the Women's Home Demonstration Club of Billings where she learned many of her skills as a homemaker. She was a children's choir director for several years at the First Methodist Church. She was an extraordinary cake decorator and candy maker. Her Christmas Eve buffets were much anticipated affairs. Janet was a talented poet, and she used her talents to write treasured word gifts for special family occasions. She was a beautiful woman who loved to dress flamboyantly for events such as the 4th of July and rodeos. She was an eye-stopper in her gold lamè cowboy outfit at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale. She had a special way with animals, always training family dogs to perform a wide array of tricks. After retirement, her husband taught her to fish and they spent many happy hours at Canyon Ferry and other Montana sites fishing and camping in their RV.
Janet is the beloved wife of and is survived by her husband of sixty years, Leslie W. Habener, now residing at the Tobacco Root Mountain Care Center in Sheridan, Mont. Janet and Les raised three children, Leslie Willie, who preceded his mother in death in June of 2003, Marie Elena of Dillon, and Gail Idelle of Livingston. She is also survived by her favorite son-in-law, Mark Fischer, husband of Gail, her sister-in-law, Gladys Rawlins of Billings, and the joy of her later years, grandson, Somerfield Clark Habener of Eugene, Ore.
Janet leaves a well of sorrow with her passing. In time, it will be filled by the multitude of beautiful, loving memories with which she built her life. She never liked sadness or tears. Her family will honor her with a celebration of life at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on Monday, Feb. 27, at the K & L Mortuary in Sheridan, Mont. A second celebration will be held in Billings at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at Michelotti Sawyer's Mortuary.