Janet Ruth Brooks

Janet Ruth Brooks, 88, passed away Sunday, March 27, 2016 at Good Samaritan Society-Valley Vista, in Wamego, Kansas. She had been a resident of Wamego since she and her husband Loren moved from Hardin, Montana in 2011 to be closer to their family. She was born in Glenburn, North Dakota on October 28, 1927, the daughter of William E. and Laura (Erickson) Phillips. She attended schools there and upon graduating from Minot State Teacher’s College moved to Sidney, Montana where she taught elementary school. She was united in marriage to James “Loren” Brooks on April 10, 1948 in Minot, North Dakota. Together with Loren, they owned and operated their family’s ranch first at Lansford, ND and then in Big Horn County, Montana where they moved in 1976. She was proclaimed by many as “the best cook in Big Horn County”, and the ranch hands looked forward to her arrival with bountiful and delicious meals each day. Janet was a 4-H leader for several years and a very active member of her church. She was a member of the Glenburn Baptist Church, serving as youth leader for several years as well as on state church boards, a past member of Church of the Open Bible in Hardin, MT, and was a founding member of Gateway Christian Church of Hardin. She was also a Charter Member of the American Hereford Auxiliary, and a member of the North Dakota & Montana Hereford Auxiliaries. Her survivors include: her husband, Loren, of Wamego, KS; a daughter, Vickie Bishop Kern (Bill) of Wamego; one sister, Doris Nelson, Minot, ND; three granddaughters: Jodi Jordan (Toby) of Rensselaer, IN; Tami Weaber (Bob) of Wamego; Kristi Bishop of Stillwater, OK; and seven great-grandchildren. A memorial service for Mrs. Brooks will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the Gateway Christian Center north of Hardin. Inurnment will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Gateway Christian Center of Hardin, and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home, P.O. Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.