Obituary of Janet Rae Huston (Krause)

Janet Rae Huston (Krause), 82, a native of Duluth, passed away on September 24, 2019.

Jan was born in Duluth on February 28, 1937 to Raymond and Winnie Krause. Growing up on the central hillside, she enjoyed the views overlooking the city and Lake Superior and sounds of the foghorn and Central High School clock bells.

As a young child, she learned to play piano, cello and many card games. She attended Duluth schools and graduated from “old” Central High School in 1954.

Jan met her husband, Richard, while he was stationed at the Duluth Air Force Base following his return to the U.S from the Korean Conflict. Their’s was a whirlwind courtship and a love story for the ages. Jan and Richard were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in 1955. They lived briefly in Kokomo, Indiana, after the wedding, but returned to Duluth in 1957 to be closer to Jan’s family and friends.

Jan’s career started with financial bookkeeping, starting at the Universal Atlas Cement Company in Morgan Park. She worked for several years at the Ben Sunland Company in eastern Duluth. With an independent spirit and desire to try something new, Jan became a business partner to start a new mechanical contracting company called Arrowhead Mechanical. Arrowhead Mechanical was a successful venture providing commercial and industrial heating and mechanical systems throughout the region until being acquired by the Duluth-based Jamar Company.

Jan raised three children, Rick, Kathy and Paul. All three went on to graduate from Duluth East. Jan was proud, though inside she always cheered for Central. She loved to visit with her parents and friends, especially with food and fun at their Lakeside home and many rounds of various card games. She loved to go on long walks all year-round – on the Lakewalk in the summer, and in the Skywalk or Miller Hill Mall during the winters. Winter fun also included several years as a member of the Drift-Toppers Snowmobile Club and cross country skiing.

Jan was very active in church activities and called three different churches home as she and Richard moved around town. While living in Woodland, she was active in the growing congregation at Concordia Lutheran Church. After moving to Lakeside, she continued her church service at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd by serving on the church council, altar guild, usher teams and endowment fund board. She and Richard moved their membership to Salem Lutheran Church after moving from Lakeside to the Duluth Heights.

Jan was also active in community groups. She served on the Board of Directors for Aftenro Home. She was also a member of the Beta Iota Duluth chapter of the friendship sorority Beta Sigma Phi. She was an active supporter of Duluth-area arts organizations, including the Duluth-Superior Symphony, Depot Playhouse and UMD’ Minnesota Repertory Theater.

Jan and Richard loved to travel. Whether it was to visit their children as they moved around the country, to Chicago or Minneapolis to see new theater, to Vegas just for fun, to spend wintersin Florida or California, or to England and Scotland to explore the Scottish history of the Huston family, Jan loved to plan and enjoy adventures far away and close to home.

Jan will be remembered most for her love of family, enthusiasm for Scottish history and tradition, and her love of music and games.

Jan is survived by her husband of 64 years and their children and their families: son Rick and Dana; daughter Kathy (Susie Johnson) and Drew; and son Paul (Kendra Rosencrans) and Riley, Ruari and Ryder.

Many thanks and deep appreciation for the staff at Ecumen Lakeshore, Keystone Bluffs Assisted Living and Essentia Hospice that have been providing compassionate care for Jan since May.

Visitation and Service will be held at Salem Lutheran Church, 4715 Hermantown Road in Hermantown on Saturday, October 12. Visitation will begin at 1:00pm, with a Service at 2:00pm and a reception following at 3:00pm.

Cards and condolences can be sent to Richard Huston, 2528 Trinity Road, Apt. 408, Duluth, 55811.