Janice Middleton

Margaret Janice Middleton, the loveliest person to bless the lives of those she knew, left us on the morning of April 13, 2019, surrounded by family.  She battled Alzheimer's fiercely, rallying over and over, until finally able to join her awaiting family on the other side of the veil.  She was a true angel on earth, the light and joy in all our lives and will be sorely missed.

Janice, one of ten children, was born on February 22, 1937 in Pocatello, Idaho to Helen Mar Miller and William John (King) Wilson. She is preceded in death by her Mother and Father, seven siblings: Marian Haskett, Earl Wilson, Lorraine Ellis, Carmen Buss, Betty Baker, Beverly Cotant, Bill Wilson, and her beautiful granddaughter, Christy Dawn Middleton.  

She is survived in death by her husband, Albert LeRoy Middleton, her four children, Mark, Greg, Laura Rush and Nancy Provolt and their spouses, her thirty- one grandchildren and her much loved twenty-three, and growing, great grandchildren.  

Viewing will be Wednesday, April 17, 2019 from 6-8:30 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 1941 N. Main Street, Farmington, UT 84025

Funeral Services will be Thursday, April 18, 2019 beginning with a viewing from 8:30-9:30 a.m. with services from 10-11:30 a.m. at the LDS Chapel, 77 S. Orchard Dr., Fruit Heights, UT 84037

Graveside services will follow the funeral proceedings at 2:30 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery, 1520 S. 5th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83201

Janice was called Maggie, as a young child, but disliked the nickname and decided to go by her middle name, Janice.  The meaning of the name Janice is “God is Gracious”.  She was the most Godly and gracious person to bless our lives; such a gentle and motherly angel. 

Janice’s early years were filled with adoration of her family members and singing with her older sisters. The Wilson Sisters were infamous and sang everywhere, even on the radio. When Roy was engaged to Janice, he was known as Roy Wilson because of the Wilson sisters.  Janice loved living in the same city as her mom, Little Ma, and would drive her around, and help and care for her in countless ways until her Mom’s passing.

Janice attended Idaho State College where she studied biology.  She wanted to be a lab technician, inspired by a dear cousin.  Roy spotted beautiful Janice across campus and knew she was the one he was going to marry.  To this day, he has a picture of her on his nightstand wearing the blouse he first saw her in. 

She married her sweetheart in the Idaho Falls temple on August 22, 1957. The night before her wedding, she had stayed up all night sewing her beautiful wedding dress.  Planning on leaving for the temple at 5:30 a.m. Roy arrived at the Wilson home to find it dark. There were no lights on inside.  He came into the house to find Janice sound asleep in her bed.  He tapped her on the shoulder and asked, “Do you want to get married today?”  As you can imagine, Janice, embarrassed, flew from the bed.  She had only been asleep for thirty minutes.  And obviously the end result is just the beginning of 61 plus years of eternal happiness.  

Her 82 years were filled with life altering experiences, meeting so many people, and touching so many hearts.  

She raised her four children, who love her more than words, and was the kindest and most loving mother anyone could ever wish for.  We were blessed with amazing home cooked meals and every need met throughout our lives, even after we had all left home and married.

She followed her husband on many adventures around the world.  From Pocatello she moved to Quito, Ecuador in 1976 where Roy continued his service in the church.  Without complaint, she learned a new culture and language and helped diaper and care for a pet monkey, her children’s beloved pet. She also had to learn to drive, where road laws were a suggestion, and learn to shop and barter, even for her fruit and vegetables. She spent countless hours in the kitchen having to wash each lettuce leaf, piece of fruit and vegetable in iodine and learn to cook orange colored chicken meat and beef that was about as tender as the sole of a shoe.  

Then in 1979 Roy and Janice accepted the assignment to preside over the San Diego, California mission.  It was a treasured three years.  She cooked, sewed for and took care of an additional 600 children.  Many of them are still in touch with us today and are truly members of our family.   

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Janice, because of her years of church service, was able to meet many church leaders, including Prophets and Apostles.  She graciously hosted many Apostles, and their wives, in her home with very little notice.  While living in Ecuador, she was in Lima, Peru with Roy at one of many conferences they attended.  President Spencer W. Kimball presided over this conference and it included the first presidency and many apostles. Janice, who was most comfortable being out of the limelight, never wanting any attention drawn to herself, was sitting in a corner, with Roy, at the airport because their flight was delayed.  President Kimball stopped speaking, pointed to Janice and Roy and asked who they were.  When told, he had Roy and Janice brought over where he put his arm around Janice and made sure she felt loved and included; something she ceaselessly did for others.

She had countless and most precious experiences, regarding her church service, that had a lasting effect on her life.  She loved the gospel and all that it entailed and was a true example of Christ-like love.

Janice and Roy spent a year in Fishers, Indiana and then moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1983.  Atlanta was their home for five years and they made some dear, lifelong friends.  She served as a Relief Society President for several years, and would selflessly attend and travel with Roy to the many conferences he would preside over as a Regional Representative. 

Janice was very patient with Roy’s love of hunting. Once, while Roy was on a turkey hunt, he killed a six-foot rattlesnake.  When he returned home, he skinned the snake and put it in one of Janice’s cooking bowls, in the garage in salt water with a piece of wood on top.  Janice returned home from a Relief Society meeting to find that it had slithered out of the bowl and was lying on the garage floor.  She ran into the house to ask Roy, “What is in my garage?!” As you can imagine, she was not thrilled to have a dead snake on her garage floor or in the bowl she made cookies in. 

When Roy was released from his church service, he asked Janice where she wanted to live.  Her answer was immediate…Salt Lake City.  She wanted to be close to the temples and the family history center.  Plus, she wanted to live near her beloved family.  Janice and Roy briefly lived in downtown Salt Lake City and then in 1989 they moved to Fruit Heights, Utah where she and Roy built their dream home and have lived for the past thirty years.  Janice loved putting down roots after moving every few years, loved to serve others, and relished in her beautiful yard which produced a number of fruits and vegetables she would can and share with others.  Her canned peaches and homemade raspberry jam will be remembered by all.  Not to mention her love of watching movies and eating “grandma’s famous popcorn”.

Janice’s lifelong love of the temple took her and Roy to Villahermosa, Mexico for eighteen months in 2003 where she served as an assistant Matron and assistant Recorder while Roy served as First and Second Counselor and Recorder. They also served for about twelve years in the Bountiful Temple as Ordinance workers where Roy was called to be a Sealer. 

One of Janice’s true loves was her family, and especially her wonderful Mar-King family.  Before little Ma passed away she told her children she wanted her family to get together every year and she wanted to be there.  Even though little Ma couldn’t be there, her sweet spirit is felt at each reunion.  Janice would eagerly await every July to be with her family in McCall, Idaho and this year will mark the fiftieth consecutive reunion.  We know that Janice, and those on the other side of the veil, will be with the Mar-King family this July. 

Her life of service and love has touched each heart that passed by.  Anyone who has known her, knows of her goodness and Heavenly presence.  She was endlessly giving and forever caring, and we know we have a Heavenly Angel watching over us.  Until we meet again, sweet daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and grandma great.  We love you and are so glad you are ours forever.