Nancy LaRayne Jones, 52, of Mankato, died on Monday, July 13, 2009, at Immanuel St. Joseph’s Hospital in Mankato, lovingly surrounded by family after a courageous nine-year battle with ovarian cancer.
A celebration of Nancy’s life will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at Belgrade Avenue United Methodist Church in North Mankato, with the Rev. Bart Fletcher officiating. Burial will be in Lake Crystal Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Mankato Mortuary and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Nancy’s tribute page on the Wall of Hope at the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (www.ocrf.org) or the Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society.
Nancy was born on Jan. 3, 1957, in Albert Lea. She was the daughter of George and Constance (Johnson) Boettcher. Nancy was a 1975 graduate of Kiester-Walters High School. She received a degree in retail sales from Albert Lea VoTech in 1978 and a bachelor of arts degree from Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, in 1980. Nancy was united in marriage to Peter D. Jones on Aug. 23, 1980, in Lake Crystal. They lived in Sioux City and Le Mars, Iowa, before moving to Lake Crystal in 1984. Nancy was employed at Rose Window and worked at Crysteel Manufacturing as the “percolator.” She was the owner of WOW (Work Out for Women) from 2004 to 2008. Nancy was known for her entertaining abilities and holiday decorating, fruit salad and egg bakes. She enjoyed reading, pontoon rides, animals, hot air balloon rides, Twins, Gophers, and Maverick sports, and has traveled around the world.
Nancy’s spirit lives on through her husband, Peter, of Mankato; two children: Erin (Barclay) Jones Roeder of Anchorage, Alaska, and Kasey (Frank Michael) Jones of St. Paul; three siblings: Jane (Steve) Johnston of Braham, Brian (Lenore) Boettcher of Walters, and Larry (Deb) Boettcher of Walters; parents-in-law: Eldon and Helen Jones of Lake Crystal; siblings-in-law: Maggie (Bruce Nowlin) Jones of Lake Crystal, Patricia Jones of North Mankato, Carolyn (David) Clause of rural Mankato, and Barb (Kevin) Dorn of Nicollet; also many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her spirit has joined her son, William, and her parents, George and Connie Boettcher.
Nancy’s strength and grace will always be an inspiration to those who knew her. Her generous spirit, quick wit, captivating laugh, and quirky sense of humor will be greatly missed by all. Following her death, Nancy donated her corneas for gift of sight to someone in need.