Memorial Services for Sister Janice Mengenhauser

Sister Janice Mengenhauser, 87, Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, died Monday, March 18^th, 2024, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor. Memorial Mass, 10:30am Thursday, April 4th, 2024 at Presentation Place Chapel, 405 9^th Ave NE, Aberdeen, SD 57401. Liturgical Wake Service, 6:00pm, Wednesday, April 3rd, 2024 at Presentation Place Chapel. Visitation one hour prior to services. Services will be live-streamed on www.spitzersfuneralhome.com. Inurnment at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Aberdeen, SD.

Janice Rae Mengenhauser was born on August 18^th, 1936, in Ravinia, SD to Evelyn (Wagner) and Ted Mengenhauser and grew up on the family farm near Plankington, SD. Janice entered the Presentation Convent on February 1^st, 1956 and professed her vows on August 10th, 1958.

Sister Janice received an associate nursing degree from Presentation College, Aberdeen, SD, a BSN from St Louis University specializing in third world nursing, a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Chicago, IL, graduated from an intensive Spanish language program and was a licensed mental health professional. Her ministry began as an operating room nursing supervisor in Mitchell, SD and as a head nurse on the surgical floor in Miles City, MT. Sister Janice moved to Mexico serving as a missionary nurse in Chiapas, Mexico, for 8 years. She said “My work with God’s poor people in Mexico was life changing. They taught me community, sacrifice, faith, joy and love for family.” She returned to the United States serving as the Presentation Sister’s director of formation for seven years before serving 20 years as a marriage and family specialist for the Archdiocesan Family Life Office in Omaha, NE. She conducted empowerment classes for Spanish-speaking women and marriage preparation classes for Hispanic couples and rewrote English language materials into the Spanish language.

Sister Janice served on the Presentation Sisters’ Leadership Council, volunteered with the L.I.V.E. Leadership Camp for Hispanic Girls, Omaha, NE, served on the board of directors for the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, Sioux Falls, SD and for the “Mujeres y Valores” (Women and Values), Omaha, NE.

Sister Janice loved reading, being outdoors, visiting and keeping in contact with many friends and those she served. She was a loving, compassionate and wise listener. She said, “Being a Presentation Sister has been the right path for me and an enormous privilege to serve God’s people. What an adventure!”

We wish to thank her Avera hospice and AMJM team for their loving, compassionate care.

Sister Janice is survived by her family of Presentation Sisters and her siblings: Jim Mengenhauser, Jack (Darla) Mengenhauser and Mary Jo (Dave) Hosbein and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Jay Mengenhauser, her sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Bob Fergan and sister-in-law, Jane Mengenhauser.

Memorials may be directed to Presentation Sisters for Hispanic Ministry.