Janet was a faithful servant of God and loving wife, mother, grandmother, GG (great grandmother) and friend. She loved to travel; some favorites being New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, and Chicago, as well as Washington state and the Dallas/Ft Worth area where she could visit with her loved ones. She was born in Burke, SD and grew up in rural areas of Nebraska and South Dakota. She was the youngest of seven siblings. She was very close to her father and never far from his side. She attended a country school in Nebraska through 6th grade, completed 7th and 8th grade in St. Charles, SD and attended high school in Bonesteel, SD, graduating in 1961.
Upon graduation in 1961, Janet worked at the Missouri Mutual Insurance Company from 1961 to 1968. She and her family moved to Martin, SD, in 1970 and from 1970 to 1979 she worked as a special-education aide at the Martin Grade School and was an advocate for the Special Olympics. In 1979 she became the City Finance Officer for the City of Martin until her retirement in 2004.
As a young girl, she loved to ride her horse (even to school on occasion) and play with her dogs. Moving on in life, she sewed and worked with ceramics, then developed a voracious love of reading and watching movies, especially those that were action packed. She was a self-taught cook (with a little help from her mother-in-law, Orese, and her sister, Iola) and became known and appreciated for her cooking/baking skills.
Janet was always with her husband, Robert, until his death in 2010 and they loved to spend time with family, playing cards and cooking meals to share with everyone. Her favorite card game was Napoleon Rummy, but she also enjoyed playing Sharp 13 and Hand and Foot Canasta with her friends in Martin. One of her greatest enjoyments was seeing plays/musicals, some of which included “Cats,” “Cirque Dreams, a Jungle Fantasy,” “The River Dance,” “The Lion King,” and “Phantom of the Opera.” She loved country music and was a huge fan of Elvis Presley. She was an avid watcher of several television programs such as NCIS, Blue Bloods, The Voice, and Wheel of Fortune.
Her husband and three brothers were all members of the armed forces, serving in the Air Force and Navy. She was an active and proud lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Post Unit #240 in Martin, SD, and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. She was able to belong to both through her husband who served in the Army during the Korean War here in the States and her three brothers who all served since the Korean War in the Air Force and Navy. As a member of Post 240, she had been both the Assistant Sargent of Arms, the Sargent of Arms and held the office of President for several years. She was passionate about involving youth and assisted with events such as Halloween Safety pamphlets and Mother’s Day projects. She participated in helping out with funerals/luncheons, the local blood drives, plus many other extra-curricular activities. She took her duties seriously and was proud to be a member supporting all veterans.
Janet was a long-time member of St. Katharine’s Episcopal Church in Martin, SD. She became a Eucharistic Lay Minister in 1993 and was very involved in the church, being Treasurer, Secretary and Senior Warden for several years. She was Treasurer of the Ecumenical Ministry Team in Martin and as part of this team helped plan ecumenical services and assisted with helping people in need with lodging, meals, etc. After moving to Ennis, TX in July 2022, she began attending St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
She belonged to the XI ALPHA TAU Sorority, affiliated with Beta Sigma Phi, and held positions of Secretary and Corresponding Secretary while a member. She served on the Martin Housing Authority Board, in charge of Senior Housing and Low Rent Housing and was also on the Board of the Martin Heritage Center.
Janet married Robert Kenneth Speidel November 11, 1961, and was married to him until the time of his death on January 9, 2010. She had 2 stepsons, Mike Speidel and Rocky Dee Waggoner (Mary Jo) as well as 3 daughters, Robin Holden, Susan Riedle (Russell), and Stacey Robinson. She had 5 grandchildren: Robbie (Jessika) Speidel, Jamayca (Jaymi) Garcia, Brionna (Nikki) Holden, Jeryn Robinson and Moses Waggoner; 13 great-grandchildren: Brailyn (Jasmine) Brimage, Brendyn Hickmon, Daivon Fontenette, Makayla Williams, Rashaun and Ryen Smith, Dereon Washington, Mikey Hernandez, Nakita Simpson, Jaedyn and Jordyn Speidel, and Jaxon and Jakob Dunigan; and 4 great-great-grandchildren, Bradlee, Ellee, Anslee, and Nova.
In addition to family members listed above, she is survived by Earl Tech, brother, and Iola Frank, sister, along with many nieces/nephews, great nieces/nephews, and extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert K. Speidel, parents, Edgar and Dora Tech, brothers, Laverne and Darrell Tech, sisters, Betty Martin and Phyllis Tech, and granddaughter, Mikayla Waggoner
Graveside services will be held in Bonesteel, SD July 8th at 1PM at the Rosebud Cemetery.
Donations in her memory can be made to St. Katharine’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 207, Martin, SD 57551.