[Nfbmt] Janis Six Obituary ... from the Billings Gazette

[Bruce&Joy Breslauer]

Janice Elaine Hoffman Six, 72, passed away Thursday evening, Dec. 8, 2012,
from heart disease.

She was born Jan. 11, 1940, to Arthur and Genevieve Hoffman in San Diego,
Calif. She has one sister, Diane Ortega of Meridian, Idaho. Janice loved
horses and dancing and after meeting a cowboy and sailor, Marvin Anderson
from Melstone, Mont., were married in Mesa, Calif., on Oct. 11, 1958. After
discharge from the Navy, they moved to Melstone and lived on the Anderson
Ranch. They had three children, Marvin Arthur in 1960, Richard Allen in
1963, and Michelle Ileen in 1969. They were divorced in 1974 and Janice
raised their three children in Billings.

Janice was an amazing women who, despite her challenges with juvenile
macular degeneration from the age of 12, always displayed great strength and
courage in the face of any adversity. Janice lived life without regard for
herself and the eloquent words of Eleanor Roosevelt capture her spirit. "You
gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you
really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I
have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along'.
You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

Janice married Gerald Six on October 1974 and were married for 38 years.
Gerald had two children from a previous marriage, Barry and Jill Six, that
he brought to the family. Janice and Gerald had many hobbies and service
groups they were involved with. They loved to camp and spent a lot of time
in Red Lodge with their children and then later in their retirement.

Janice loved dogs, especially German Shepherds and always had one or two
throughout her marriage to Gerald. In 1997, Janice traveled to Rochester,
Mich., and received her first Leader Dog, Kaiser, from Leader Dogs for the
Blind. While always fiercely independent, Janice was given more than just
new mobility, Kaiser afforded Janice a new lease on life. For the first
time, Janice was truly independent and flew all over the United States as a
Leader Dog Field Representative for 10 years. She spoke at many Lions
Conventions, for various Association for the Blind functions, and was very
involved with the Montana Association of the Blind.

Her favorite role as a Leader Dog Representative; however, was speaking to
groups of children at area grade schools about Leader Dogs and their
importance in the lives of those who depend upon them. Because of Janice's
efforts in the community through education, the Billings community has been
made aware of the importance of service animals.

Janice is preceded in death by her father and her mother, Arthur and
Genevieve Hoffman and her brother-in-law, James Ortega.

She is survived by her husband, Gerald Six; son Marvin Arthur Anderson,
daughter-in-law Monica Anderson, and grandson's Jacob and Zach Anderson; son
Richard Allen Anderson, daughter-in-law Kimberly Anderson N.P., and
grandson's Matthew and Shawn Anderson; daughter Michelle Ileen Strain M.S.,
son-in-law James Strain, and grandson William Zahn. She is also survived by
stepson Barry Six and his wife Cindy Six; stepdaughter Jill Lynch, her
husband Scott Lynch and their children Mikale and Micah Lynch. She is
survived also by her sister, Diane Ortega; and her nieces and nephew.

The family would like to extend their sincere thank you for all of the kind
words and gestures made by family and friends of Janice, as well as a
special thank to Pastor J.D. Shanahan of the First Church of the Nazarene.

A memorial service will be held at Smith's Funeral Chapel at 304 34th St.
W., Billings, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 10.