Janice Carol Schei, age 86, of Luverne, Minnesota, died on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at the Luverne Hospice Cottage.
Visitation was from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. Funeral service was at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at Grace Lutheran Church. Interment followed at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Arrangements were under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home - Luverne Chapel.
Please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com to view Janice's life history and to sign an online registry.
Janice Carol Schei was born on Oct. 11, 1939, to Henry and Christina (Behr) Bultmann in Worthington, Minnesota. While growing up, Janice participated in 4H Club, Glee Club and church activities. Janice graduated from Fulda High School in Fulda, Minnesota, in 1957. Following graduation, she worked at Interstate Power Company. During that time, she joined a bowling league and was very proud of bowling a 300 game! On Aug. 26, 1967, she was united in marriage to Dennis Schei at Immanuel American Lutheran Church in Fulda. The couple was blessed with three girls, Kris Ann, Sara and Marti. They raised their family on a farm outside of Luverne, Minnesota. Janice continued to be an active 4-H leader and a volunteer as well. While her family was young, Janice learned to bake and decorate cakes. Throughout the 80s and 90s, she made thousands of cakes for special occasions - there wasn’t a custom order that she couldn’t perfect. As the girls grew older, Janice returned to work at Luverne Public Schools and also Tri-State Insurance. Janice passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at the Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 2 days.
Janice was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne and was a part of the Grace Lutheran Church Women, Missions in Action and Dorcas Circle. She enjoyed hosting any type of event that would involve her cooking or baking and would never complain about anything. Janice was always the first to help and loved having something to do. She enjoyed friendships and learning new things through her membership in the Extension Club for several years. Through volunteering with Bookin’ Buddies, she enjoyed reading to elementary school students following her retirement.
Janice is remembered by her three daughters, Kris Ann (Brad) Polzien of Wall Lake, Iowa, Sara (Mark) Altman of Adrian, Minnesota, and Marti Thompson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; granddaughters, Josi Altman, Sadi Altman, Paige Polzien and Ingrid Thompson; sister, Norma (Lee) Kolterman of Niobrara, Nebraska; sisters-in-law, Linda Bultmann, Darnelle Mammen and Darla Aukes; and many other family and friends. Janice was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis; parents, Henry and Christina; and siblings, Elden, Edwin, Ruth, Harold, Lyla and Marlyn.
