Jeanine I. Aarhus, 74, Bottineau, died Tuesday, July 28, 2009, in Trinity Hospital in Minot.

Jeanine Ione Lynnes was born July 23, 1935, in Rolette, to John and Ingeborg (Bratterud) Lynnes. She was raised on the farm with her eight siblings and graduated from Rolette High School in 1953. Following high school, she taught in a one-room schoolhouse near Sherwood where she met her future husband, David. From 1956 to 1959, Jeanine studied at St. Andrew's School of Nursing in Bottineau while Sp4 David Aarhus was stationed at an Army base in Germany. During these years, Jeanine served as president of the Peace Garden District Student Nurse Association and attended the National Student Nurse Association convention in Atlantic City, N.J. In 1959 Jeanine graduated to become a registered nurse.

After two years of letter writing with David, Jeanine flew to Germany to join him. On Sept. 25, 1959, they were married in Lenggries, Bavaria, where they made their home for several months. The next summer, the newlyweds traveled to Norway to visit relatives on both sides of the family. Upon returning to North Dakota, Jeanine worked full time as an R.N. at St. John's Hospital in Fargo and at one time had three children under the age of 3.

In 1968, the young family moved to Bottineau, where Jeanine gave birth to her fourth child and worked at St. Andrew's Hospital. During Jeanine's 44-year nursing career, she was known for being a dedicated nurse at Dunseith Nursing Home, Westhope Nursing Home, Fort Yates Hospital, and Belcourt Indian Hospital.

After retiring in 2000, she attended gun and knife shows throughout North Dakota with her husband, David, until he died in 2003. She loved adventures, like traveling up the Alaskan Highway in a fifth-wheeler and riding a Harley-Davidson with her brother in Alabama. She loved her family deeply and made homes in Anchorage, Alaska, and Nokomis, Fla., to be near her children and grandchildren. Her home base was with her sister Roxanne Mott and family in Minot. She was 100 percent Norwegian and never wanted to miss a Norsk Hostfest. Jeanine will always be remembered for her unique sense of humor, independent spirit, generosity, and strong will.

Those who shared in her life: children, Gerard (Donna) Aarhus of Fairbanks, Alaska, Germaine Delaney of Nokomis, Fla., Jennifer (Thomas) Jepson of Anchorage; grandchildren, Syren Delaney of Anchorage, Jonathon, Julie, and Brian Aarhus of Fairbanks, Sofia and Allie Jeanine Jepson of Anchorage; sisters, Yvonne (Allen) Drege of Minot, Lola (Orlin) Hanson of Sherwood, Sandra (Gordon) Metz of Mesquite, Nev., Roxanne (Robert) Mott of Minot; and brothers, David (Miriam) Lynnes of Bottineau and Donovan (Toni) Lynnes of Mobile, Ala.; sisters-in-law, Avis (Dan) O'Connell of Minot, Betty Aarhus of Sherwood, Junice Holte of Newburg, Ore., Evelyn McIntyre of Coos Bay, Ore., Solveig Barnett of Sylacauga, Ala.; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; former son-in-law, Keith Delaney of Kelliher, Minn.; her good friend Shirley Pasicznyk of Bottineau; Germaine's fiance, Herb Lester, of Nokomis; and her "adopted" daughter, Sonja Aarhus of Bismarck.

Jeanine was preceded in death by her parents; husband, David; dear daughter, Genelle; brother, Lester; sisters, Marie and Mildred; sisters-in-law, Lavene Aarhus and Lillian Bussma; brothers-in-law, Raymond Monson, Ole Aarhus, Ole Holte, James Macintyre, Lyle Aarhus, Chester Bussma and W.D. Barnett.

Funeral: Today, July 31, 2009, at 1 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Visitation: Today from 9 a.m. to service time at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Burial: Today at 3:30 p.m. at Evanger Lutheran Cemetery, rural Norma.

Those wishing to sign the online guest register or share memories of Jeanine may access the online obituaries at (www.thompsonlarson.com).