Jan Booen Babbitt

Published 9:36 am Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Jan Booen Babbitt, 88, passed away peacefully on April 18 in Brooksville, FL. Born on January 11, 1937, to Shirley and Dorothy (Stonefield) Booen in Albert Lea, MN, she grew up with her two sisters and graduated from high school there.

Jan became a stewardess for Braniff Airlines following graduation, which sparked a love for travel that would last throughout her life. This career also allowed her to make many connections with Hollywood executives, leading to her second career working in the film industry for Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios. Jan’s stories about living in Los Angeles during the golden age of films were fun and entertaining.

Jan married Don Babbitt of Conger, MN in 1982, and together they owned and operated Northland Auction until their retirement in 1995. When the scheduled food service didn’t show up one day, Jan jumped in and ran the lunch wagon. The tasty food became so popular that it eventually led to Don and Jan owning and operating the Conger Café until 1995.

They then sold their home in Conger, auctioned off all their belongings, and hit the road for more than seven years. Their travel adventures took them to 49 of the 50 states, plus all but one of the Canadian provinces. They made many close friends “on the road” before finally parking the RV in Brooksville, FL, in 2001, and settling into yet another chapter of their lives.

Jan was never able to sit still for long, so it was no surprise when she jumped in and led many activities and committees in their mobile home park. This kept her busy until her unexpected passing.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband of 35 years, Don, in 2017. She is survived by her two sisters, Jackie Hoyt (Ron) of Albert Lea and Jeanene Townswick (Maynard) of Worthington, MN; three stepchildren, Bob Babbitt of Monticello, IN, Nancy Hitchcock (Joe Maciel) of Hanford, CA, and Vicky McIntyre (Terry) of Hinton, WV; five grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, great great nieces.

A private celebration of life and graveside service for family will be held at a later date in Glenville, Minnesota.