A memorial service for Janice ‘Jan’ Bender Labesky, 86, of Frederick, SD, will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 19, 2026, at St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Frederick. Pastor Justin Brotzel will officiate. A graveside committal will follow at Wayside Cemetery, Frederick, then lunch & a time of fellowship at the church to celebrate Jan’s life. Jan passed away on Sunday, August 16, at her home in Frederick. Arrangements have been made by Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 South Main Street, Aberdeen.

Jan was born in Gackle, ND, the third of John and Leontine (Geiszler) Spilloway’s six children. She graduated from Gackle High School in 1957; and met her husband to be, Norman Bender, when she went to Ellendale College that fall. The couple married and lived in Ashley, ND, where they began their family of six children.

Jan worked at the McIntosh County Courthouse Judges Office and later the Rexall Drug Store before becoming a stay at home mom. The family lived briefly in Edgeley, ND, before moving to Frederick in 1967, the community the family calls home. She liked attending the children’s sporting events and at one time played softball on a women’s team.

Jan owned and operated JB’s Ceramic Shop for over forty years. She taught adults, as well as school age children during summer sessions. She also enjoyed teaching ceramics at Aspire in Aberdeen for several years. She cooked at the Barnard Elementary School lunchroom, a job she enjoyed for fourteen school years.

Norm passed away in 1993, one month after they had celebrated thirty-five years of marriage. Jan married Jim Labesky in 1997; he passed away in 2011. Jan continued her ceramics shop projects, which included crafting 121 baptismal angel ornaments for St. Paul’s Cradle Roll. She also made personalized goblets for children celebrating their first communion. She was active in ladies group activities, held several offices over the years, and taught Sunday School and Confirmation classes.

Grateful for having shared Jan’s life are her children, Tony (deceased), Sherry Slycord, Patty Roeszler (deceased), Scott (Pam) Bender, Joel (Michelle) Bender, and Mike Bender; sisters, Carol Madsen and Joan (Doug) VerDouw; brother, Allen (Folly) Spilloway; son-in-law, Dennis Roeszler; sister-in-law, Deloris (Stan) Dockter; grandchildren, Dylan Bender, India (Nico) Bender, Nicholas Rausch, Katherine (Zach) Ellis, Christopher (Michelle) Roeszler, Logan (Kelsey) Bender, Mary (Max) Bender, Ben (Brittney) Bender, Brandon Bender; great-grandchildren, Alex Roeszler, Matt Roeszler, Keyon Rausch, and Jaxon Bender; stepchildren Jim (Mary) Labesky, Jayne (Brad) Herther, Janet Labesky, Liz Labesky, Gerald (Julie) Labesky, and their families; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, wonderful friends, neighbors, and the staff from Avera Home Hospice.

Preceding Jan in death are her parents and parents-in-law, Ben and Bertha Bender; husbands, Norm Bender and Jim Labesky; daughter, Patricia Roeszler; son, Tony Bender; and sisters, Joyce (Albin) Kleingartner and Wanda (Wilbert) Speidel.