Janet Marie Bellows Youd September 4, 1936 - March 9, 2023

Janet Bellows Youd was born the youngest of eight to John Allen Bellows and Agnes Ferguson Bellows in Orem, Utah on September 4, 1936. She spent most of her married life in Lake Shore, Utah.

Janet grew up helping with the family fruit farm in the aftermath of the Great Depression and during World War II. She graduated from Orem High School alongside her best friend Dixie Burgener (Myers). After graduation, she worked and completed as much schooling at BYU as she could afford.

She met John Youd on a blind date, set up by her cousin Merrill. They fell in love quickly. She accepted his proposal on Valentine’s Day 1958, and they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple June 5, 1958. They were both very hard workers, and they had to be. There was little money in ranching and school teaching, but her ingenuity gave their six children a magical Christmas every year.

Her greatest joy was her family, especially a new baby. Her eyes always sparkled when her grandchildren were around. Even though she didn’t enjoy cooking, she was happy to make an amazing dinner for family—homemade rolls and ice cream included.

Janet loved learning. Her children all remember finding her immersed in the scriptures, with the table covered in study materials. While she didn’t have the chance to finish college, she supported and encouraged her husband and all of her children in doing so. Janet loved to read, a joy she passed on to all of her children. She loved to read the classics, and in her youth, she read and reread the few offerings of her home and library. In her later years, when life forced her to slow down, she read about a book a day. Her favorite author remained Charles Dickens.

Janet loved music. Her home was filled with Nat King Cole, Handel’s Messiah, or patriotic hymns. On vacations she sometimes challenged you to think of a word that she could not sing a song about. She didn’t have the opportunity to take music lessons as a child, but she made sure to offer them to all her children.

Janet could make things beautiful. She was a talented seamstress, sewing her wedding dress, her children’s coats, her daughters’ prom dresses, and even clothes for their dolls. Her children and grandchildren treasure the quilts she made them. Even on a budget she was a classy dresser and interior designer. She had a green thumb and coaxed a lot of beautiful plants along in some very difficult soil. She was, however, never able to make fruit trees grow in that soil. But every year she still canned a thousand bottles of the fruit her brothers gave her from their orchards.

Janet was never idle. About the only thing that could compel her to stop working on something was a BYU game or a temple trip. She loved spending a fall day at a BYU football game, apple in hand. She and John loved going to BYU basketball games. She also loved going to the temple. In her retirement years, it was not uncommon for her to spend the better part of a day there.

Even though she called herself shy, she worked well with others in many capacities. She served in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including as a ward Relief Society President, a Gospel Doctrine teacher, and in the Stake Relief Society Presidency. Janet went with John on many Christmastime visits to widows in their ward while John was serving as bishop. Janet enjoyed spending time at the MTC while John served in a branch presidency. Janet also worked at the Spanish Fork auction and at the Utah County Health Department. She was part of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She wrote scripts and narrated for a performing group called the Country Cousins.

Janet and John went on yearly family vacations, a tradition that continued with grown children and grandchildren. During retirement, Janet enjoyed many trips with John, including trips to Guatamala and England.

She endured many health challenges. Her family would like to thank all who have helped her during these challenges, including the staff at Aspen Home healthcare, Aspen Ridge Hospice, and Orchard View Assisted Living.

Janet passed away March 9, truly having endured to the end. Her family hopes they can live up to her example of hard work and devotion to God and family.

Janet is survived by her six children Shelley (Dan) DeVries, Kim (Tom) Marshall, Bryan (Debbie) Youd, Russell (Christi) Youd, Lorilee (Brian) Warren, and Jacquelyn (Ryan) Christensen; 21 grandchildren; and 26.5 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Elaine Black.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John D Youd; her brothers and sisters-in-law Milton (Ellen), Wayne (Fern), Russell (Leona), Lynn (NaDean), and Ray Allen Bellows; her sister and brother-in-law Marion (Joe) Adams, and brother-in-law William Black.

The viewing will be March 17, 6-8 pm at Walker Funeral Home, 187 S Main St, Spanish Fork; and from 9:45-10:45 am before the funeral on March 18 at the Lake Shore Chapel, 5916 South 3200 West, Spanish Fork. Funeral services will be March 18 11:00 am in the Lake Shore Chapel. For those who would like to watch the live funeral stream from home, please follow the link provided. Interment will be in the Spanish Fork Cemetery.