Janice Rae Aden, age 67, of Sutherland, Nebraska peacefully passed away at home surrounded by her family on February 4, 2021.
Janice was born at Sutherland, Nebraska to Tom and Ethel McNickle) Thomsen on September 18, 1953. She grew up in the Sutherland and Chappell areas of Nebraska, then went on to graduate from Chappell High School in 1971. Janice married Yanc Aden in 1973 and they lived in Overton, Nebraska until divorcing in '79.
Janice eventually moved to North Platte, Nebraska to persue her nursing degree at Mid-Plains Community College, and graduated in 1983. She then worked at the Sutherland Care Center for several years before going to work at the Pawnee Hotel Retirement Center. After she was diagnosed with MS, Janice worked in motels and was the front desk person at the Stockmen Inn until 1996 when life took a change in direction as she met Gary Phipps and became his road manager and organized his bookings. The two were together until her death.
Janice was Vice President of the Nebraska Country Music Foundation and was a member of the Eagle's Auxiliary and the Westerners. She liked dogs and being with her grandkids as well as traveling and spending time with her boys.
Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Ethel Thomsen; brothers, Kenneth and Dennis Thomsen; sisters, Joan Thomsen and Patricia Brown; and nephew, Rusty Moore.
Survivors include her special friend, Gary Phipps, of Sutherland, NE; children, Casey (Tricia) Aden of Atlanta, GA, Brandon Aden of New York City, NY and Kelli Thomsen-Backman, of Lincoln, NE, grandkids, Dominic, Connor, Everett, Austin, MaKenzie and Trenton; sisters, Carol (Don) Moore, of Tryon and Kim (Brian) Miller, of Lincoln, NE; sister-in-law, Kathy Thomsen, of Lexington, NE; as well as many other family members.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 4, 2021 at Odean Colonial Chapel with Pastor Mark Baldwin officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Norht Platte Cemetery.
The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the MS Foundation or Great Plains Hospice.
Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements.