Jean Elizabeth Banken

Jean Elizabeth Banken, age 82 of Appleton, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Quiet Oaks Hospice House in St. Augusta, Minnesota.

Visitation for Jean Banken will be held Saturday March 7, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. until  10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Appleton, MN

Mass of Christian Burial for Jean Elizabeth Banken will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday March 7, 2026, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Appleton, MN.

Burial will be in the Appleton City Cemetery.

Jean was born May 5, 1943, in Benson, Minnesota to George and Mary (Maher) Kepner. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Clontarf, Minnesota. Jean grew up on a farm outside Clontarf, attended elementary school in Hancock, and graduated from high school in Benson, Minnesota. After graduation she worked in the offices of Henry’s Candy Company in Morris, Minnesota and at the University of Minnesota, Morris until she married.

On November 24, 1967, Jean was united in marriage with Robert Floris Banken at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Clontarf with Fr. John Cooney officiating. They made their home on a farm north of Appleton, Minnesota and were blessed with over 55 years of marriage and three children. When the children were older, Jean went to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Appleton Care Center, where she worked for over 25 years. Following her retirement, she volunteered for years at Home-to-Home thrift store in Appleton.

Jean was a lifelong member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Appleton and was active in many church activities in her younger years. She was an avid reader and was rarely seen without a book in her hand; she especially enjoyed historical fiction and WWII fiction. She also enjoyed working word find puzzles. But above all she enjoyed spending time with her family and will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife and mother.

Jean is survived by her children: Kevin (Leanne) Banken of Brookings, SD, Dan (Jennifer) Banken of Deltona, FL, and Karen Banken of Sioux Falls, SD; and sister Catherine Edinger of Wadena, MN.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, parents George and Mary Kepner, sister Barbara Schmidgall, and brothers Lawrence, William, and Pat Kepner, as well as brothers Robert and Charles in infancy.

Arrangements are with Vaala Chapel of Appleton, MN.