The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14 at First United Methodist Church in New Ulm. Pastor Nick Scutari will officiate. Interment will be Saturday, May 14 at 2 p.m. at Lakeview Cemetery in Brighton Township.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 13 at Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes – SOUTH CHAPEL in New Ulm. Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church.

To leave condolences for the family online or to sign the guestbook, please visit: www.mvfh.org.

Jane is survived by her daughter, Jenni (Dave) Dent of Palmdale, California; sons, Aaron (Shelly) Starz of New Ulm, Adam (Kimberly) Starz of Ghent; eight grandchildren, Amanda (Jacob), Avery, Noah (Gianna), Danni, Abigayle, Emmalise, Adalynn, Arrik; three great-grandchildren, Jemiah, Kalila, Oakley; siblings, Robert Starz, Pamala Laulainen, Amy Niemann, Joyce Halverson; and many extended family members and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, Gérald “Jerry” Starz; his parents, Robert and Marjorie Halverson; and his brother Richard “Tail” Halverson.

Jane Elise Halverson was born March 23, 1949 to Robert and Marjorie (Ketcham) Halverson in New Ulm. She graduated from New Ulm Public High School in 1967 and went to the University of Minnesota, St. Paul. During Welcome Week, Jane met Jerry Starz, and they started dating soon after. On August 15, 1970, Jane and Jerry were married in Lafayette. Jane earned her bachelor’s degree in horticulture in 1971 and moved to Appleton.

In 1974 Jane and Jerry moved to the family farm in rural New Ulm. Jane spent the next 10 years helping on the farm and raising her children. In 1984, Jane enrolled at Minnesota State University, Mankato in Elementary Education. She graduated in 1988 and held various jobs until the early 1990s, when she started as a planning and zoning coordinator in Brown County. Jane then moved to Morrison County in 2005 and in 2009 retired and returned to the family farm.

Jane’s family and faith were central to her life. Jane treasured all the time she could spend with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also remained active as a 4H leader, was a member of the Nicollet County Pork Producers, Connecting Nicollet County, Young Farmers National, and had a long career as a school teacher at the Sunday. Jane faced many challenges when Jerry passed away in 1995, but she always kept the faith and kept her family first.

“God is good all the time. God is good.”