Janice Barbara Gates, 76, of Kenyon, Minnesota died Friday, July 21, 2017 at Zumbrota Care Center. Janice was born January 18, 1941 at Northfield Hospital to Joseph and Dorothy (Hutchinson) Hoidahl. The family lived in Cannon Falls. As a young child the family moved to the Sogn Valley area and lived above the Nansen Cheese Factory. She attended country school until the 8th grade when she moved into the town of Kenyon. There she met her future husband. She was confirmed at Vang Lutheran Church, rural Dennison. She graduated from Kenyon High School in 1958. Janice married Don Gates on October 13, 1959 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Being a military family, they lived in Madison Wisconsin, New York, Montgomery, Alabama, and Colorado Springs, Colorado before finally coming back to Kenyon in 1975. Janice was a homemaker while her children were growing up. She held a number of jobs; welder at Foldcraft, owned and operated DJ's Rec in Kenyon, worked for Dexmar, and finally Midwest of Cannon Falls. She retired to spend time with her husband. They enjoyed traveling until Don's deteriorating health. She also enjoyed attending sports events for her children and grandchildren, having lunch dates with high school classmates and the Golden Girls, she was an avid reader and enjoyed word puzzles. She is survived by her four children, Debbie (Randy) Eggert, Laurie (Sterling) Sibley, Donald J. Gates and John Gates all of Kenyon; grandchildren, Jeremy (Toni) Eggert, Shauna (Bradley) Johnson, Ethan (Jana) Eggert, Rachel (Omar) Casanova, Tyler Eggert, Tanner Gates and Anna Gates; great grandchildren, Logan Meyers, Cooper, Gracie and Jacob Johnson, Abel and Scarlett Eggert, Ondre, Angelena and Raina Casanova; her sister, Diane Erno; sister-in-law, Mary Danielson-Gates; brother-in-law, Rick Gates; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Don Gates, and infant granddaughter, Christy Sibley. Visitation will be at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kenyon on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 2:00 PM at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kenyon with the Reverend Marvin Kormann officiating. Interment will be in the Kenyon Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Kenyon Veteran's Color Guard or donor's choice. Michaelson Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Visitation: 07/26/2017 12:00 07/26/2017 14:00 Service: Kenyon 07/26/2017 14:00