Josephine "Jo" Valiant

Josephine "Jo" Ann Valiant, age 73 of Litchfield, MN, died on Thursday January 9, 2025 at her home in Forest City MN. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday January 18, 2025 at the Church of Our Lady in Manannah, MN. A visitation will be held two hours prior to the service at church. Interment will be held at Saint Gertrudes Cemetery in Forest City, MN. 

Josephine (Jo) Ann (Brulla) Valiant was born in St Cloud MN on October 1, 1951, to Joseph and Catherine (Friedman) Brulla. She passed away peacefully at home on January 9, 2025, after a long battle with kidney disease. Jo was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic Faith at the Assumption Church in Eden Valley MN. She graduated from Eden Valley High School in 1969. She was united in marriage with Phillip Valiant on November 5, 1983. She worked for many years sewing stuffed animals at Animal Fair in Eden Valley and tending bar on evenings and weekends. After the younger kids were born, she was able to stay home with them and do daycare and home sewing for several companies over the years as well as mending for countless people. She could sew anything from the most delicate, lacy wedding garter to huge boat covers or fish houses. She could probably replace a zipper with her eyes closed! 

Once the kids were all in school full time, she went back to work outside the home at Minnesota Rubber for many years and entered “semi-retirement” while continuing to cook at the Meeker County Jail. As she transitioned fully into retirement, she focused her time fully on her grandchildren. She enjoyed hopping in the car to go “check the roads”. This usually ended with them driving across the back roads with no specific destination in mind, ending wherever the road took them. She especially loved heading to the Black Hills and seeing the buffalo roaming out there. She always liked to try her luck with the scratch off tickets and with the slots at the casino. She loved supporting her grandchildren at their activities. Whether it was a band or vocal concert, a hockey game in a sub-zero hockey rink, or a loud outdoor ATV racing. She was a long-time member of St Gertrude’s Church. She hated egg yolks and peas unless they were cold and fresh from the pods. Jo was so generous and giving, that even in death she gave her body to the benefit those in need of her tissues, bones and eyes. 

She is survived by Favorite Oldest Son, Jerry (Bobbi Jo) Valiant of Manannah, Favorite Oldest Daughter, Melissa (Paul) Sackett of Watkins, Favorite Youngest Daughter, Stephanie (Mike Olson) Valiant of Forest City and Favorite Youngest Son, Joseph (Jackie) Valiant of Forest City; Grandchildren Alex, Riley, Isaak, Lukas, Jennifer, Jessica, and Hudson; Sisters Marlene Brulla, Bea (Ronald) Hollenkamp, Sandy Oestreich, Mary Ludwig, brothers Larry (Jean) Brulla, Edward Brulla; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Phillip, her parents, Joseph and Catherine Brulla, sister Elizabeth Thielen, Brothers in Law Leo Thielen and Leo Ludwig and Sister in Law Joan Brulla.

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