Janet Ialean Lepire
July 26, 1948 ~ September 17, 2025
Born in:
Cavalier, North Dakota
Resided in:
Fargo, North Dakota
Janet Ialean Stegman was born in Cavalier, ND, July 26, 1948 to John Daniel and Ruby Stegman (Olson) of Bathgate, ND. Known by her middle name, Ialean went to school in Neche, ND and graduated from Mayville State College in 1969, majoring in Physical Education. She married Camile O. Lepire from Olga, ND and settled down on the Lepire homestead and started a family. They had four precious children and moved to Walhalla. As life is full of changes, Camile and Ialean eventually divorced and she and the children soon moved to Grafton. There she worked for a time in the physical therapy department at the hospital but really found her calling as the activities director at the State Developmental Center. She met the most precious man, Dean C. Johnson, who became her life partner and together they found life’s joys. When grandchildren started arriving, Ialean found her true life passion, being a grandma. Her life path was then centered on being where the grandbabies were, first being in Walhalla and Fargo to follow where Stephanie’s children were, and then out to the Denver area to be where Andy and Rene’s children were.
Ialean loved telling a good story, laughing, never cooking the same recipe twice, “sh*! shopping”, finding watercolor paintings, a good British TV show, filling a room with music, supporting her grandchildren’s endeavors and being fiercely self-sufficient.
Ialean is survived by her four children: Rene Lepire (Kim), Lynette Burgan (Tony), Stephanie Kost (Chad), Anthony Lepire, ten grandchildren: McKinley Solberg, Cameron Solberg, Chelsea Burgan, Calvin Maurer, Janae Lepire, Samuel Lepire, Kamile (Mila) Lepire, Lucas Lepire, Oliver Lepire, Sofia Lepire
Meeting her in heaven are her parents, grandparents, three infant siblings, Camille Lepire, and Dean Johnson
Ialean passed away peacefully in the gentle loving care of HIA Heather’s House (formerly Hospice of the Red River Valley). In lieu of a memorial, if you feel called, please send a donation to Heather’s House. https://www.hiahealth.org/
A Celebration of Life for Ialean will be held on Saturday, September 27th from 2pm to 5pm.
2:00 pm – Fellowship and snacks
3:00 pm – Celebration program – please bring stories to tell or music to play or sing (mic and keyboard will be provided for all who want to share their talents in honor of our mother’s love for music, jokes, and stories).
Location: The Lights Events Center
360 32nd Ave West #100
West Fargo, ND
(entrance is through the Dive Bar – Ialean would have loved that!)
Parking across the street and in the parking garage
Deepest Sympathy to ALL of Ialean’s family! I have many SPECIAL memories of time spent with her and her family. She was quite a gal and I will truly miss her and our good times!
To my dear Lepire cousins,
Please receive our sincere condolences for the loss of your beloved mother. She will be missed beyond measure. She was always a bright light in any room with a great sense of humor. You are in our prayers. God bless
Jeff and Melanie
Rene, Lynette, Stephanie, Andy, and Families
Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Enjoyed visiting with your mom the short time she was over at Edgewood. May God grant you all his strength and peace during this difficult time. Celebrate her life! Death has no power over love – she will live on through all who shared this life with her.