Janet "Jan" I. (Schafer) Beilke

Janet “Jan” I. Beilke, age 85, of Alexandria, formerly of Carlos, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at Arabella Manor in Alexandria.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, September 4, 2021, at Mount Carmel Ministries Chapel in Alexandria with Pastor Steve Walswick officiating. Music is provided by pianist, Mary Aalgaard and vocalist, Joy Ciaffoni. Interment is at Evergreen Cemetery, Alexandria.

Visitation is one hour prior to the service.

Janet Irene Schafer was born on Mother’s Day, May 10, 1936, to Leo and Iva (Tysver) Schafer in Hazen, North Dakota. Jan decided to commit her life to the Lord at the age of 16, and by God’s grace she stayed committed and continued to grow in her Christian faith throughout the years. Following her graduation from Hazen High School, she attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis and graduated in 1957. Jan returned to Hazen for a short period of time where she was employed as a secretary at a law firm. She moved to Illinois briefly where she was an editorial assistant at a Christian magazine for adults and children. In 1958, she moved to Alexandria where she served at First Lutheran Church as the church secretary and youth leader. On November 25, 1961, she married Ray Beilke and together they farmed near Carlos for many years. They adopted two boys and raised them on the farm. They enjoyed producing and selling specialty crops and forming many relationships in the process. Jan enjoyed being very active with church, teaching Sunday school for 30 years in addition to serving on the church council for many years. She led numerous women’s Bible studies for over 40 years and always found that the more she studied it, the more she realized there was so much more to learn. She was an avid reader and enjoyed discussing books. Her friends and family were very important to her, and she was especially proud of her two sons.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

Jan is survived by her husband of 59 years, Ray Beilke; two sons, Joel (Julie Johnson) Beilke of Duluth and Neil Beilke of Miltona; grandson, Mac; sister, Joanne (Thor) Thompson of Brocket, North Dakota; brother, Jerry (Ardella) Schafer of Mt. Vernon, Washington; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials preferred to Mount Carmel Ministries.