Janice Williams

Janice Williams, 83 of Marion, passed away on July 26, 2026 at the Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls. Funeral Service will be at 10:30 AM Saturday, August 1, 2026 at the First Baptist Church, Chancellor. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM Friday, July 31, 2026 at the church. In Lieu of Flowers, memorials may be directed to First Baptist Church or Union Gospel Mission. Arrangements provided by Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home.

Janice (Jan) Kay Williams was born on April 5, 1943 in Lennox, SD to Harm and Adeline (Otten) Wildeboer. She attended Wilson School District #90 and graduated from Hurley High School in 1961. She worked for William and Teresa Collins in the chiropractor practice for 6 years after school.

On June 21, 1966 she was united in marriage to Richard Williams. They started Williams Locker in Marion and later opened a grocery store, Williams Clover Farm and Locker, which they owned and operated for 25 years. After working at the store, Jan worked for the Marion Record as the editor until she retired. Rich and Jan enjoyed extensive travel together across the USA. After Richard passed, her trip to Alaska was one of her favorites.

Jan took up playing the accordion at age 6 and played in many different functions. Through the years, she also played the accordion and sang solos in church. Jan knew Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Chancellor where she served many years as Youth Director, Christian Board of Education, and Sunday School Superintendent.

Grateful for having shared her life are her nieces Tami (Col (ret) Bob) Mammenga, Judy (Wayne) Petersen, Jane (Steve) Spielman, and Jean Spomer; special cousin Diane Daughters; and special friends Kerwin, RoxAnn, and Mildred Neeman; a host of other relatives, friends, and residents of the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion. Janice is preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, and brother Merlin Wildeboer.