Joan (pronounced Jo Ann) passed from mortal life at her home in the late morning hours of April 22, 2023, at the age of 91 after experiencing difficulties brought on by a stroke. She was born during the Great Depression in Southgate California where the family lived most of the time, sometimes moving back and forth to Utah depending on work. Along with her siblings Billy, Carol, and Lowell, she was raised by her parents Willard A Lofgreen and Elsie Sophia Bishop. She had many great experiences and some difficult ones while growing up there. She attended public school in the Anaheim area up until the 5th grade. Eventually, the family settled in Bountiful, Utah where her father built their home. She lived during a time of humble beginnings and became a witness to the many astonishing technological advances of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Joan attended Davis High School and while working part-time at the local movie theater, she became acquainted with another Davis High student, Rodney Lewis, who would become the love of her life. They were married at a ceremony held at her aunt’s home in Bountiful, Utah on June 8, 1950, with her sister Carol as one of the maids of honor. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
Most of their married life, Joan and Rod lived in Farmington, Utah with a short five-year stint in Clearfield, Utah. Joan was a dedicated wife and mother who loved and supported her family by filling the role of homemaker. Her children can’t smell the pleasing odor of freshly baked bread without thinking of her. Many times we could note the clinking of mason jars being sterilized in preparation of storing fruit for the winter. She helped Rod in the fall harvest season by going down to his father’s orchard to help sell apples at the side of the road. While living in Clearfield she acted as the office manager for Mountain Fuel Supply, the gas company, at their office/home. Rod needed the assignment to advance his career and Joan fully supported him.
Mom’s early social life included being part of a book club where she made many lifelong friends. They would often take trips together with their husbands most of the time visiting sites in the west and in the state. She was a good sport who would camp in a tent or go to her father’s small cinder block cabin in the Uintah mountains or haul their trailer to a cool mountain or rocky desert site. Mom was organized. They had to make sure to always include necessary preparations for a trip. Later in their life Joan and Rod purchased a place in Saint George, which they visited as often as they could.
Mom had seven sons, one who died in infancy. Raising six rambunctious boys was a responsibility which she took seriously without being overbearing. She missed being a teenage mom by only one week when her eldest arrived. Her youngest came along when she was thirty-nine. Because their middle son passed away in infancy, it divided the family into two parts. Rod and Joan often remarked that it was like they raised two families.
An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, mom held several callings. Along with Rod she went on a full-time senior mission to the Oklahoma Tulsa mission. Upon their return both became temple workers in the Bountiful temple serving for seven years.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband Rod, her brothers Billy and Lowell, her parents (especially her mom who she was very close to), and her middle son Thomas Lynn who died of a heart condition at five days old.
She is survived by her Sister Carol Hartinger residing in Seattle, Washington, her six sons: Alan and Melanie Lewis of North Ogden, Utah, Steven Lewis of Farmington, Utah, David Lewis of Clinton, Utah, Roger and Andrea Lewis of West Bountiful, Utah, Jon and Staci Lewis of Layton, Utah, Garrett and Sarah Lewis of Bartlett, Tennessee, sixteen grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.
The family wishes to offer a special thank you to Cindy Flint and Jennifer Bell of Elevation Hospice care, their coworkers who also helped at times, and a very special show of gratitude from the brothers to Steven Lewis without who’s care Mom could not have stayed in her home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 28, 2023, at the historic rock church, 272 North Main Street, Farmington, Utah. A viewing will be held Thursday evening from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah and Friday morning from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment- Farmington City Cemetery.
Memories may be shared in the "Guestbook" on this obituary page.
Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.
Thursday, April 27, 2023
6:00 - 8:00 pm (Mountain time)
Russon Mortuary & Crematory - Bountiful
Friday, April 28, 2023
9:45 - 10:45 am (Mountain time)
Historic Rock Church
Friday, April 28, 2023
11:00am - 12:00 pm (Mountain time)
Historic Rock Church
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