Janet C. Stearns, 82, Deadwood, died peacefully surrounded by four generations of family who loved her dearly on March 7th, 2014, at her home in rural Deadwood.

Memorial service will be held at 2 P.M. on March 15, 32014 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Deadwood with Father Michael Johnson officiating. Light refreshments will be served after the service. A private inurnment will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery at a later date.

Janet Reinecke was born in Lead on November 13, 1931 to Earl and Thelma (Lavine) Reinecke. She was baptized and confirmed at Christ Church in Lead and graduated from Lead High School in 1949. She attended Rapid City School of Nursing and graduated in 1951.

She married Myron Stearns on August 4, 1952, in Lead. Their first year of marriage, Janet said it was like "A Yearlong Honeymoon", because Myron was in the military and they got to travel. From El Paso, TX to Long Branch, NJ falling deeper in love with each other and getting to know one another without any other family around to distract them. They made their home in Deadwood where Janet worked as an RN in her early years of marriage. Central City became their home in 1954.

In1952, Myron and Janet along with family members purchased Stearns Hardware and this became their livelihood for the next 34 years. Janet was the bookkeeper (something she wasn't too fond of to begin with, but grew to like). During those years she was an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church and was the church treasurer for a number of years. Like her mother, she was active in Girl Scouts as a troop leader and saw all of her girls through Girl Scouts. She was also a member of PEO and Beta. In her later life she was a proud member of the Bag Ladies in Deadwood. She was fond of her roots in the Deadwood community and always made a great effort to contribute to it.

Myron and Janet started traveling around this great country of ours in their motor home in 1978 for a couple of months each year. Then when they sold the store in 1986 they were able to see pretty much all of it, this is something they both enjoyed very much.

In 1986, they purchased the "Rodger's Pig Farm" on Hwy 85 between Deadwood and Frolly's corner. They remodeled a barn that became their beautiful home. This is where she spent the rest of her life. Janet loved to read. Myron said when he was courting Janet, she would always have her nose in a book when he came to pick her up for a date, and she did until the day she died. She also enjoyed sewing and was part of the church quilting group. Flower gardening and volunteering at the library were also things she enjoyed doing. She was a devoted wife and mother who loved visits from her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who were her pride and joy. She will be greatly missed.

Janet's last few years included many trips to the Deadwood hospital and clinic. The family that grew out of those visits was an amazing support group for her and Myron. The doctors, nurses, and aids are some of the most professional, compassionate caring people in the medical community and her family is so grateful to all of them. The Physical Fitness Program in the hospital is another group of people that Janet looked forward to seeing three times a week to work out with. The support and love she felt from all of them was ever lasting. The Family all wants to say THANK YOU so very much for everything that you have done for use.

She is survived by her husband Myron; children, Ronald Stearns (Jolene Ring) Spearfish, Heather (Cornelius) Beukhof, Montevideo, MN, and Julie (Randy) Tinnell, Whitewood; grandchildren, Jennie (Truett) Carmichael, John (Nisi) Tinnell, Jana Tinnell, Lindsay Beukhof, and Laurel Beukhof; great- grandchildren, Jack Tinnell and Bridger Nelson; and sisters, Lynn Holms, Las Vegas, Nevada and Lela (Mel) Sorenson, Baker, OR. Preceding her in death were her parents, and daughter, Marie.

Arrangements are under the care of Lead-Deadwood Memorial Chapel of Lead.