Janet Elaine Smith, 80, and Rev. Howard Ward 'Skip' Smith, 80, of Owatonna, passed away five days apart from one another at Birchwood Cottages in Owatonna. Jan passed away on February 20, 2024 and Skip on February 15, 2024.

Jan was born July 25, 1943, in Tipton County, Indiana; the daughter of Arthur Allen and Ruby (Kaufman) Horn. She grew up in Indiana, earned her bachelor's from Indiana University and received her Master's in Social Work from University of Arizona.

Skip was born November 4, 1943 in Salina, Kansas; the son of Howard Eugene and Barbara Jean (Warde) Smith. He grew up in Kansas, Washington, France, and Spain, completed undergrad at Indiana University and received his Master's in Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Skip and Jan met at college in Kokomo, Indiana, and, after dating for two years, they were united in marriage on June 18, 1965 at Friends Church in West Middleton, Indiana. They were able to spend 58 years by each other's side. Jan enjoyed gardening, baking, playing piano, and chocolate. Skip enjoyed books, history, birds, and collecting hats. They took many family camping trips together, and raised nearly a dozen extremely lucky pet dogs over the years. Skip never met a stranger; he enjoyed talking with everyone. Jan loved playing with her four grandchildren and three great grandchildren every chance she got.

They are survived by their sons, Jason (and Amy) Smith of Moorhead MN, and Ian (and Molly) Smith of Minneapolis MN; Jan's sisters, Barbara Darnell, and Beverly Zell of Thorntown, IN; Skip's sister, Carol Lynn Kirchner, of Kirkland, WA.

They were preceded in death by their parents, Arthur Allen and Ruby Horn; and Howard and Barbara Smith.

Funeral services will be held at Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna on Saturday March 2nd at 3PM, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Memorials are preferred to Doctors without Borders USA.