October 22, 1938 – December 28, 2015
Our Mother Janet Marie Westman Hrutfiord was born on October 22, 1938 to Margaret Olson Westman and Eythor Gudjon Westman in Bellingham, WA. She passed away on Monday, December 28, 2015 at Stafholt Good Samaritan Center in Blaine, WA after a valiant 8½-year fight with cancer. Jan lived in Bellingham and attended Birchwood Elementary where she met some of her lifelong friends. At the age of 10, the family moved to their family farm in Blaine. She attended Whatcom Jr. High School, Blaine High School and Cottey College in Missouri. Returning to Bellingham to finish her degree in elementary education at Western Washington University, she was re-acquainted with her neighbor Bjorn Hrutfiord who she married. They lived in Seattle where they had 4 sons and adopted her nephew Kurt Thomas after her sister Yvonne’s death.
Jan taught elementary school for several years. She loved music, singing and playing the piano and organ. Jan was involved in P.E.O. Sisterhood for over 50 years. She wrote many articles for The Northern Light newspaper. She was proud of her Icelandic heritage and was involved with the Icelandic community in Blaine. She was deeply engaged in many community services.
Jan was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years Bjorn, her parents, Eythor and Margaret Westman, her brother Gary and sister Yvonne, and son Bradley (wife Dianna). She is survived by her sons Brian (wife Shannon), David (wife Kari), Steven (wife Rachel), Kurt Thomas and nephew Eythor Westman. She was blessed with 9 grandchildren, Melissa, Cassandra, Jeffrey, Conner, Svenna, Bjorn, Bella, Resa and Oskar. As she never thought she would have grandchildren, she was very proud of all of them.
Jan will be buried in a private service at Blaine Cemetery on Wednesday, January 6, at 11 a.m. A public memorial service will be held at Grace Lutheran church in Blaine on Friday, January 8 at 4 p.m.
