Janice Charging Kerzmann, "Sweet Grass" (Madzuatsa), 66, Garrison, passed away on Wednesday, March 1 2017, at the CHI-St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, with many loving family and friends surrounding her. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11:00 am at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Garrison. Wake services will be held on Sunday beginning at 5:00 pm at the Ralph Wells Jr. Memorial Complex in White Shield where rosary will be said at 7:00 pm. Burial will be at St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery in Garrison.

Janice Rae Charging was born September 9, 1950 to George "Duane" and Beatrice (Gidding) Charging in Minot, ND. She was raised west of White Shield. She attended school in White Shield and then attended high school at Marty Mission in Marty, SD, graduating in 1968. She continued her education at the Haskell Institute in Haskell, SD, receiving an Associate of Arts degree in business. She later earned a bachelor's degree from UND in Grand Forks and earned her Master's degree at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD.
On June 20, 1975 she married Jerry Kerzmann at the Ralph Wells Jr. Memorial Complex in White Shield. They made their home in Garrison and were blessed four children, Georgia, Jerri Lynn, JR and Corey. Tragically, Jerry was killed in a construction accident near Turtle Lake in 1987. Janice was a woman of great strength and faith and continued to raise her children with unbelievable love and support.

Janice's career began at New Town High School in 1974 before she began counseling in White Shield, where she spent the rest of her career. Her longevity as a guidance counselor was a true testament to her character. Janice was an extremely patient woman, who always gave the benefit of the doubt and searched for the good in all. Her coworkers had the utmost respect for her and the White Shield School will always hold her in a special place for the dedication and compassion she gave for so many years. She also made many lifelong friends while on the Ft. Berthold Community College board where she served from its existence in 1974 through the 1990's in many different capacities including board president. Janice was honored by the White Shield community at her retirement ceremony in June of 2016.

Though Janice gave her whole heart to her students, her greatest love was that she gave to her family, especially her children and grandchildren. Her passion became bouncing from all of her children's homes to spend time with them and her grandchildren. Her family's happiness was all that mattered to her. There was never a time that something else came before her family. She was supremely dedicated and was always there for her family no matter the circumstances. And many of you know JR and Corey, so you can only imagine some of the circumstances. Even through her battles with breast cancer, she always put family first and never wanted attention or sympathy. Her doctors said she was a walking miracle as she was not to live through her first battle with cancer over 17 years ago. Breast cancer took her body but could not take her spirit! She was a wonderfully humble woman with incredible strength and her legacy is one her children will hold dearly for the rest of their lives. She can never be replaced, but her love will live on through her children, grandchildren, and numerous family, and she will forever hold a place in their hearts.

Janice is survived by children, Georgia (Daniel) Leppell and their children, Lukas, William, Henry, and George, Garrison; Jerri Lynn Kerzmann and her son, Jeran Breidenbach, Lincoln; Jerry "JR" Kerzmann and his sons, Kolter and Benson, Garrison; and Corey (Nicole) Kerzmann, and their children, Brady, Finley, and Cutler; Bismarck; her mother, Beatrice (Giddings) Charging, Tahlequah, OK, siblings, Mary (Harry) Oosahwee, Tahlequah, OK, Mark Charging, Wahpeton, Amy Zephier, Lincoln, NE, Stanley Charging, Crystal, MN, Carol (Tyke) Danks, New Town, Russell Charging, Fargo, Donna (Hank) Taken Alive, McLaughin, SD, Nancy (John) Cohen, Missoula, MT, Steve Charging, Brookings, SD, and Robert (Terri Lynn) Charging, Aurora, SD; and numerous, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, father, George "Duane" Charging, and numerous close family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials given to The Life Beyond Breast Cancer, www.LBBC.org

To sign the online register go to www.garrisonthompson.com