Janet Leigh Coombes was born July 10, 1936, daughter of Bryan and Stella (Spittler) Coombes in Center Creek Township, Martin County, near Granada, Minn., to a farm family of 14 children.

After the early death of her mother, she took over running the household in addition to attending high school. She sang in choir, played the drums and was a cheerleader. She graduated from Granada High School in 1954.

Next, she moved to Fairmont where she made many new friends. During this time she worked for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M) for several years. Her younger sister, Annie joined her in Fairmont as well.

On June 8, 1958, she married Ronald Dean Wertjes. They traveled west for their honeymoon and returned to a home in Bricelyn. She continued to work at 3M until their first child was born while Ronnie farmed. They moved to the farm just outside Bricelyn where they raised four children. They were married for 53 years until Ronnie died in 2011.

Janet did family childcare and very much enjoyed the children. She could be found bowling, golfing, playing bridge, sewing, playing piano, dancing and gardening in her free time. The couple enjoyed traveling, flying and cruising, especially during the cold Minnesota winters. She loved their winter home and friends in Mesa, Ariz. She spent her last 10 years in Eden Prairie living with her oldest daughter. Highlights during this time were singing along to her favorite tunes, soap operas, grandchildren and many family celebrations.

Janet is survived by one sister, Ann (Joseph) Falzone; four children, Pamela Wertjes of Eden Prairie, Ronald/Jamie J. (Heidi) Wertjes of Necedah, Wis., Jon (Paul) Wertjes of Minneapolis and Mona (James) Steil of Maple Grove; 14 grandchildren, Christopher, Carson, Nicholas, Logan, Hans, Lars, Megan, Tyler, Rebecca, Ethan, Tessa, Jamar, Adryn and Laura; six great-grandchildren, Isabel, Emilia, Isaac, Lucas, Lily and Mason; two sisters-in-law, Joanne (Herman John) Wertjes, Shirley (Donald) Coombes.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Dean Wertjes; grandchild, Lucas Alexander Wertjes; parents, Bryan and Stella (Spittler) Coombes; seven sisters, Helen (Cecil) Larson, Margaret (Richard) Squire, Clara/Sis (Arland) Fritz, Fern (Wayne) Anderson, Mary Lou (Lyle) Schlemme, Rita (John/Jack) Studer, Joyce Coombes; five brothers, Dean (Arlene), William/Bud (Velma), Max (Ruth), Harold/Sonny (Betty & Alice), Donald (Shirley); five brothers/sisters-in-law, Joe Falzone (Ann), John/Jack Studer (Rita), Cecil (Helen) Larson, Richard (Margaret) Squire, Wayne (Fern) Anderson, Lyle (Mary Lou) Schlemme, Herman John (Joanne) Wertjes, Gary Lee Wertjes; Arlene (Dean) Coombes, Velma (Bud) Coombes, Ruth (Max) Coombes, Betty (Harold) Coombes, Alice (Harold Coombes).

Memorials can be made to Alzheimer’s Assn https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate/.

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