Jana Rae Elliott

Jana Rae Elliott (The Good Samaritan), age 56, passed away July 10, 2016. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 16, 10:00am, Platte Canyon Community Church, 4954 County Road 64, Bailey, CO 80421. Jana was born October 12th, 1959 in Wichita Kansas to Elerisa Mae Riffel and Dean August Fechner. Jana is survived by her husband Ken Elliott, son Andy, daughter Morgan, grandsons Lucas Madrid and Titus Easter, sister Dee Kvasnicka, sister Jeanne McMillen, several foster children and hundreds of friends. She is preceded in death by mother Elerisa, father Dean, and sister Beverly. Jana was currently living in Wolf Point, MT but she would tell you Conifer, CO was her forever home. Ken and Jana met in Oklahoma City and were married soon after in 1987. She was his best friend, his adventure partner, and dearly beloved for 29 years. Andrew Thomas Elliott was born in 1987 and then Morgan Ashley Elliott came in 1990. Being a mother was her greatest accomplishment and she was fortunate enough to be Nana to two wonderful boys Luke and Titus. Jana was an amazing, caring, and loving woman who adored her family and her God. She was a member of the Platte Canyon Community Church in Bailey, CO and attended Blue Sky Ministries on the Ft. Peck Indian Reservation. Jana graduated from Oklahoma Christian College with her teaching degree and her love for children shown through in everything she did. Jana was a stay-at-home mom for several years and then used her gifts in several occupations. She recently was a 6th grade teacher at Wolf Point Northside Elementary School and she was looking forward to being the guidance counselor for this coming year. Jana was always involved in PTA, booster clubs, coaching youth sports, leading children's bible study, and so many other groups that let her minister to the kids around her. Jana's competitive spirit was prevalent in all that she did. Some of her favorite activities included volleyball, ping pong, racquetball, bowling, tennis, swimming, rollerblading, and just about any card game. Jana always had a knack for the making the ordinary extraordinary. Her ""roll up your sleeves,"" can-do attitude rubbed off on those around her and she always made the impossible seem possible. She was an amazing cook and always made her famous Pumpkin Pancakes for anyone that stayed over. She was the party planner extraordinaire and always made any occasion, big or small, an event to be remembered. For several years she was a leader of People to People that took kids all over the world which fit perfectly into her love for travel. Jana was fortunate enough to visit New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Uganda, Switzerland, Finland, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, Germany, Belgium, France, Austria, Turkey, Israel, Mexico, and Canada. Her deep love for Christ paired with her desire to continue to learn led her to the ""That the World May Know Ministries."" Accompanied by fellow believers from all over the US and Canada she was led by Ray Vander Laan to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. On these trips to Israel and Turkey Jana grew immensely in the Word and had a true gift for sharing what she learned with others. Her stories comforted many and bridged the gap from her Heavenly Father to the world around her. Jana was constantly seeking adventure and loved being outdoors. There are countless mountain tops she summited, endless trails she wandered, and waters that she kayaked. There was nothing out of her reach and nothing she wouldn't try. She enjoyed cycling, snow shoeing, pheasant hunting, 4wheeling, canoeing, and rafting. Jana also had a great love for animals always having a least one pet around. Some of the most memorable were her dogs Radar, Sassy, Beau, and Kody. In her most recent years the Lord had led Ken and Jana away from their dream home in Conifer to embark on a great adventure together on the Ft. Peck Indian Reservation in Wolf Point, MT. They quickly found their calling to minister to the people of the community through the local schools and churches. Jana's motherly love led her to jump at the opportunity to be a foster parent and she was fortunate enough to have showered 6 little boys and girls with her love over the past year. In the 2 short years she was on the reservation she left her mark and her absences will be felt by all. Although she was made up of all these wonderful things it was her enchanting smile and willingness to help others that drew anybody and everybody to her. There was no such thing as a stranger to Jana and her unrelenting stewardship for others made her everybody's best friend. Jana was a bright light and the memory of that light still glows strong. She was a true example of what Christ's love looked like. It is no wonder one of her favorite verses was Isaiah 6:8 ""Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ""Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"" And I said, ""Here am I. Send me!"" Although Jana will truly be missed by all, we draw comfort knowing that she is now sitting at the Lord's feet, loving and watching over us. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Wolf Point Northside Elementary School: Attention Kathy Adkins 710 4th Ave N., Wolf Point, MT 59201.