Janet Queen Esther Lange

Janet Queen Esther Lange, of Lynden, WA, passed away Tuesday, March 22, 2016. She was 83, born in Bellingham, WA on May 22, 1932 to George and Victoria Jane (McGregor) Hicks.

Janet was a lifetime resident of Whatcom County and she married Robert Lange in 1950. She worked for 20 years at the Ferndale Coast to Coast, was a member of National Association of Retired Federal Employees, served on the Auxiliary Board for Rural Carriers’, and was an active member of Sunrise Baptist Church where she taught four and five-year-olds for many years.

Throughout their 66 years of marriage, Bob and Janet supported children at the Starfish Orphanage. Janet loved gardening, canning, and quilting. She made quilts for each of her children and grandchildren.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband Robert in 2002 and siblings Orville Hicks, Wilma Roedell, Melvin Hicks, and Eldon Hicks. She is survived by her seven children, Mike (Cheryl) Lange, Gwen (Bob) Brim, Bianca (Kevin) Maddux, David Lange, Ken (Marlys) Lange, Tom (Sharon) Lange, and Ben (Carolyn) Lange; 27 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; brothers, Glen and Patti Hicks, Gerald Hicks, Wendell and Wilma Hicks and Bernard and Carol Hicks; sister Gloria Stieber; sisters-in-law, Mary Hicks, Mary Swinburnson, and Mildred Lange; brother and sister-in-law, Ed and Patricia Ruckey; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing for family will be held at Westford Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 6th from 3-8 PM and on Thursday, April 7th from 10-11 AM. Graveside service for family will be held at Greenacres Cemetery on Thursday, April 7th at 1:30 PM.

A public Memorial Service with reception will be held at 3 PM on Thursday, April 7th at 3:00 PM at Sunrise Baptist Church.

Memorial donations in Janet’s name may be made to Starfishminstries.org.