JANEL SMITH
Janel Georgia Buro, Havana, ND, was born November 25, 1970 to Eli and Mary Ann (Siegler) Buro in Aberdeen SD. She was raised on her parent’s farm south of Ludden, ND, attended Oakes High School and graduated in 1989. Janel was baptized as an infant in the Congregational Church, Merricourt, ND.
Having an adventurous soul, after school Janel left for Amagansett, NY to work as a nanny. Her deep love for children and her natural ability to care for them drew her to the childcare and preschool profession. After owning her own daycare for several years in Oakes, she also worked in Fargo and Minneapolis childcare centers until 1994 when she moved to Havana, ND. After continuing her education at Tiospa Zina and receiving her associates degree in Early Childhood Development she worked as a preschool teacher in the FACE program and a paraprofessional in Britton, SD. In 2015, she was awarded for being #1 in the nation for sales with Traveling Vineyard as a Wine Guide. She also served on the Kedish House Board. For the past five years Janel was employed by Ptacek Financial Services in Oakes, ND.
Janel married the love of her life, Steven “Sam” Smith, on January 13, 1996. Sam and Janel’s 26 years of marriage was immensely happy and fulfilling. They raised three beautiful children and enjoyed taking them on vacations as well as the two of them traveling abroad. Janel was most looking forward to becoming a new grandma to twins. She was blessed with some of the most incredible friends, neighbors, and coworkers whom she treasured beyond explanation. Her larger-than-life spirit, along with a contagious personality and quick wit, kept everyone guessing at what she might come up with next! By God’s amazing grace, Janel went home to be with her Lord and Savior on July 24, 2022 and is at peace enjoying a heavenly life without any worries or pain, the kind of life she longed to give to everyone she loved.
She will be forever loved and missed by her husband Sam, daughter Justine (Chase) Warburton of Bismarck, son Thomas Smith of Fargo and daughter Marisa Smith of Devils Lake; her beloved siblings who shared her life, Joanne (Wade) Anderson of Havana, James (Arlyne) Buro of Ludden, Judy (Richard Leigh) Buro Erickson of Apple Valley, MN and Julie (Rick) Johnson of Lisbon and her mother-in-law Inga Smith of Britton, SD. She is also survived by unborn twin granddaughters, Autumn Janel & Violet Cynthia Warburton. Janel had an overflowing love for her many nieces and nephews who could never forget the fun she brought to their lives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, father-in-law Thomas Smith, nephew Brason Kappenman, maternal and paternal grandparents.
A prayer service will be held on Friday, July 29, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at Havana Trinity Lutheran Church, Havana, ND. Her funeral will be Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Havana Lutheran Church followed by burial at Havana Cemetery and lunch at the Havana Civic Center. Janel’s service will be recorded on the Dahlstrom Funeral Home website www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com to be viewed at a later time on her obituary page.