Janet Swanson Sauter 92, formerly of Moline, passed away on the morning of November 28th, 2014 in Albuquerque, NM.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 13) at First Lutheran Church, Rock Island. Burial is at Memorial Park Cemetery, Rock Island. Visitation is 10:00 a.m. until service time Saturday at the Church. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to American Association of University Women or AAUW.org.

Janet was born in Moline on March 6, 1922 to Lawrence O. and Hilda A. Johnson Swanson. She was raised in Rock Island and graduated from Rock Island High School in 1940, where she was the Salutatorian of her class. In 1945, she graduated Magna Cum Laud from the University of Minnesota, with a bachelors in International Relations.

Her first job took her abroad where she had many interesting assignments working for the U.S. State Department. She lived in Spain, Switzerland, and in Norway where she was Executive Secretary to the Ambassadors to the U.S. She was very well travelled, and spoke five languages (English, German, French, Spanish and Swedish).

In 1954, she married Nikolai Minot in Oslo, Norway. They resided with their two daughters in Zurich, Switzerland, where Janet had many friends, was active in organizations, and enjoyed numerous family trips around Europe.

In 1969, Janet moved back to Rock Island with her two daughters. After obtaining a second bachelors in German and Spanish from Augustana College, she taught German and Spanish at Alleman High School and Black Hawk College. She married Norman Sauter in 1977.

She was a member of several organizations in Switzerland and the Quad Cities and held many board positions; president for the American Scandinavian Association, AAUW, Augustana College Endowment Society, W.E.L.C.A of First Lutheran Church, and was active in several book clubs, reading for the blind over the radio, and organist/pianist for the First Lutheran Church.

In 2008, Janet moved to Albuquerque NM, where she immediately joined AAUW, St. Luke's Lutheran Church, and the Scandinavian Club. She enjoyed attending lectures through UNM Osher, and attending symphony concerts at Popejoy.

Janet enjoyed politics and was always on top of the latest news, staying engaged with world events all through her life. She was a wonderful baker and cook, and was well known for her Swedish cookies and cakes. She was a thoughtful, considerate, intelligent and a loving person, and was adored by all who knew her.

She leaves behind a loving family, daughter and son-in-law, Helene Minot and Greg Shorr, Albuquerque; daughter, Tatiana Minot, Albuquerque; ex son-in-law, Shahid Hamid, Barcelona, Spain; grandchildren, Omar Hamid, Santa Fe, NM, and Nina Hamid, New York City; sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Gabe Shostak, San Antonio, TX; niece, Diane Moses; grandniece/nephew, Christine Strube, and Scott Moses of the Chicago area. She was preceded in death by her husband.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com