Melba "Janell" (Whitehead) Larimore, age 87, was born April 11, 1935, in Wichita Falls, TX, to Felix Hardin and Myrtle Lee (Davis) Whitehead. Having never liked her given first name, Melba, she was known as "Janell."

She was united in marriage to Charles Richard Larimore on June 1, 1957, in Wichita Falls, TX. The couple was married 58 years and 4 months before his passing on October 20, 2015. Born to their union were four children: Stacey A. Vance of Fort Wayne, IN; Lisa A. (Aaron) Rance of Las Vegas, NV; Linda A. (Jim) Burk of Rapid City, SD; and Mark R. (Debbie) Larimore of Whitewood, SD.

Janell, the eldest child, was big sister to Evelyn (Whitehead) Brown and Weldon Whitehead, both of whom preceded her in death, as did her parents and her husband.

Janell's first job was working as a salesclerk in the local Five and Dime corner store in Wichita Falls, TX. She later became a split-shift telephone operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Once married, Janell was a caregiver as both a homemaker and a nurse's aide for many years in both Texas and Indiana. In her expanse of working years, to support her family, Janell also held a variety of other interesting service jobs. Some of these included: Line work at Wayne Candies in Fort Wayne, IN; Making blue jeans at the Blue Bell Factory in Columbia City, IN; Housekeeping in hospitals and nursing homes; Grading field produce during harvests in North Dakota; Caring for children in a YMCA setting; and finally, being a Walmart cashier in Rapid City, SD, prior to her workforce retirement.

Janell was a believer in Jesus, and she accepted Him as her personal Savior. She raised her children to know His saving grace. Putting action to her faith, she enjoyed teaching Sunday School to grade schoolers and caring for infants in the church nursery. She was often heard remarking, "God love 'em!" as she affectionately spoke about people.  Janell wanted everyone to have salvation and assurance of eternal life with Jesus in heaven.

Janell enjoyed gardening, cooking, singing, coloring, reading, listening to Grand Ole Opry and gospel music, and spending time with friends and loved ones. She had a fondness for birds. Janell enjoyed being outside and watching wildlife. She experienced many travels through God's beautiful countryside while she and her husband engaged in life adventures together. One of these was high country gold panning where only the stars lit the night. In her younger years, she was known for making homemade pies and fudge.

Janell called several states home over the course of her 87 years, 7 months, and 1 day of life. In her later years, she spent 13 years as a Whitewood resident before moving into The Victorian Assisted Living in Rapid City. She lived there 19 months, beginning February 1, 2021. Since September 15, Janell most recently resided at Monument Health Sturgis Care Center Massa Unit.  Janell went to heaven to be with her Lord and Savior on November 2, 2022.

Family and friends of Janell are thankful to have shared in her life. Her children will especially remember her for teaching them to love unconditionally and to serve others.

Janell's various caregivers found her to be a kind, caring and sweet woman. They oftentimes expressed appreciation for the person she was in their care. She also had special friends at the Victorian who enjoyed meals, activities, and music with her during her residency there.

She is survived by the four children born to her. She is also survived by her five grandchildren: Ethan (Jenna) Burk of Spearfish, SD; Cole (Frankki) Rance of Albuquerque, NM; Drew (Savannah) Rance of Lubbock, TX; Emily [Burk] (Joshua) House of Summerville, SC; and Kyle Larimore of Whitewood, SD. Additionally, she is survived by her nephews Rusty (Judith) Brown of Royse City, TX, and Floyd (Linda) Brown of Rowlett, TX; and niece Angie Patterson of McGehee, AR, and their families.

God blessed us with Janell. Now she has received her gift of eternal life in heaven with Him.  Funeral services for Janell are being handled by Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.  Visitation is scheduled at Osheim & Schmidt, on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 11:00am. Funeral service will directly follow at 12:00pm. Janell will be laid to rest at the Mt. View Cemetery, Rapid City, with a brief public graveside prayer preceding interment.