Josine Moran, 73, of Mentor, MN, passed away on July 5, 2024, at Hillcrest Senior Living in Red Lake Falls, MN.
Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday July 25 at Christ the King Free Lutheran Church in East Grand Forks, MN. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service.
Josine “Jody” Ellen Moran of Mentor, MN loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and a dear friend to many, entered heaven’s gates the evening of July 5.
Josine was born October 23, 1950, in Devils Lake, ND to Martin and Alice Myhre, the first of 3 children. Josine spent most of her childhood in Devils Lake and graduated high school in 1969. She played alto saxophone throughout high school and never missed a chance to tell her kids she had to walk to school 1 mile each way no matter the weather with her saxophone in hand. After high school, she attended Lake Region College and received her clerical science degree in May of 1972. Unbeknownst to her, she would meet her husband Gary Moran in the summer of 1971. She had agreed to a blind date set up by mutual friends Carol and Roger. It was love at first sight and this led to many dates dancing the night away and a marriage of 51 years.
Gary and Josine married on Sunday, April 15, 1973, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake. Josine had always been a city girl but without hesitation they made their home at Gary’s rural homestead in Mentor, MN. They spent the next many years raising their 5 children – Jolene, Amanda, Kari, Nathan, and Erling. She always had her children involved in many activities including 4-H, Girl Scouts and school sports. Never did she back down to help with badge challenges, teaching her children how to bake, and driving to regional/state competitions. She never missed a Sunday taking her kids to church and Sunday School followed by youth group and confirmation. Josine was just as involved as her children – volunteering when and where needed, she had no limit. Her strong religious faith and community involvement was something to be admired. Besides being a Sunday school teacher for countless years, she took part in being a vacation bible schoolteacher, a youth group volunteer, Ladies Missionary Group, Bible Study, Sons of Norway in Fosston, MN, and Cursillo. While raising herchildren, she worked from home through endless nights sewing multiple items for Lady Slipper Designs, Bemidji, MN, on her treasured Singer sewing machine. She re-entered the workforce when her children were older as a school cook at Mentor Elementary School and at Win-E-Mac School. Josine took pride in her work being a “lunch lady” and loved serving food to all the students.
Her love for music and Elvis was infinite. There was never any question what radio station she would have on in the car during our many family Sunday drives around the countryside – “oldies” of course. On any random day she would play her records from her coveted collection (we were not allowed to touch as kids) we would all sing and dance along while doing chores in the house.
Josine did so many things with precision and perfection from her cooking, baking, painting, word searches, sewing, right down to her handwriting and gift wrapping. She will always be known for her one-liners (never sour) with honest, witty humor giving her “2 cents” especially to her kids. (We did not appreciate this much as kids but now as adults she was easily the funniest person we have known.) She was just as funny and spry with her humor into her later years up until the end. She could be outspoken but only when she felt it was warranted, and never mind trying to change her opinion on something once it was made up. Her warm, embracing, big hugs were simply the best, you would never leave or go to bed without adding her classic “I still love you and what would I do without you.” Even up until her last hours she held our hands with assurance of the eternal love she had for each one of us. She was a fierce warrior through the endless battles of dementia, covid pneumonia, and cancers she endured later in her life, exceeding doctor’s predicted analysis. Without the tremendous care and love provided by the staff at Hillcrest Senior Living, Red Lake Falls, MN, for the last 2 years, we truly believe their continuous devoted care gifted us additional time with her. We will forevermore be grateful.
Josine highly loved and valued her faith, loving husband Gary, her children, her brother and sister, all family and friends, and her fur baby Foxie dog. She will be dearly missed by all those she leaves behind. Our hearts are broken, but she is free from pain now and is reunited with her son Nathan and family in Heaven. Words from one of her favorite songs “we’ll keep you close as always; it won’t even seem you’ve gone. Cause our hearts in big and small ways will keep the love that keeps us strong. Though it’s hard to let you go in the Father’s hands we know that a lifetime’s not too long to live as friends.”
She is survived by her husband Gary Moran, daughters Jolene Moran, Amanda Johnson, Kari (Danny) Moran, son Erling (Brook) Moran. Brother Keith ‘Bruce’ (Cindy) Myhre, sister Bonnie (Kelly) Wasberg. Many nieces and nephews. Grandchildren Jadine (Brennan) Moran-Mello, Damian (Michelle) Moran-Mello, Sophia Moran-Mello, Jasmine Moran, Karson Johnson, Keegan Rhode, Kellan Hernandez, Branch Moran, soon-to-be granddaughter Moran, great-grandchild Mariana Moran-Mello.
She is preceded in death by her parents Alice and Martin Myhre, parents-in-law Ray and Goldie Moran, her son Nathan, half siblings Joyce Adams, Marvin Myhre, Blayne (Ardella) Myhre.
