Jeanette Vivian Thurston , 86, Minot and formerly of Russell, died on Saturday, March 28, 2015 in a Minot nursing home.

Jeanette was born on January 1, 1929 on the family farm near Russell, N.D., to Harry and Sarah (Thom) Bennett. She was raised on the family farm, attended rural school, graduated from Russell High School and attended nursing school. She became very involved with her family from an early age. In high school, she and her sisters made up Russell\'s girls basketball team.

Jeanette married Andrew Thurston on April 27, 1974 in Minot. They made their home in Minot where she was a fulltime wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and homemaker.

She thoroughly enjoyed volunteering her time to others, mostly toward keeping up to date with her own descendants. Jeanette especially enjoyed summers at Lake Audubon, doll collecting, sewing and crafts, and was a member of the Magic City Antique Car Club, but her No. 1 passion was her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Jeanette was a voracious reader, as she was would consume books in what seemed like no time. She was quiet for the most part, but no one could get her to stop talking about her grandchildren as well as other people and their families. Whenever her grandchildren or great-grandchildren got involved in school or extracurricular events, there was never much doubt that "Grandma Jan" would be there to support those she cared most for. Jeanette especially loved time with her family at the lake and would facilitate for the whole family whenever everyone gathered at the family cabin.

Jeanette's loving family includes her husband of 40 years Andy; children, Craig (Marcia) Pool and Jeff (Debra) Pool all of Fargo; grandchildren, Max (Crystal), Alex, Colton, Justin (Jennifer) and Tyler Pool and Jennifer (Jason) Brandt; great-grandchildren: Eban and Liam Pool and Madison and McKenna Edmiston; siblings: Harvey (Julie) Bennett of Williston, ND, Harry (Rosemary) Bennett of Minot, ND and Shirley Miller of Bottineau, ND and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, James, Marge, and Virginia.

Public Visitation: Thursday, April 2, 2015 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Funeral Service: Private at Thomas Family Funeral Home Chapel.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.

Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.