Janet Thomas

Janet Thomas, beloved sister, aunt, and friend, passed away February 5, 2026, from heart complications. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, service, and a love for learning. She will be sorely missed by her family - especially by her many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews to whom she dedicated her love, her time, her stories, and her incredible knack for gift-giving.

Janet was born in New York City on September 28, 1949. Her mother worked as a nurse and her father attended law school at Columbia University. Janet often shared vivid stories that she learned from her mother of the family’s time while she was a baby in New York - excursions to Central Park; the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Her stories were so detailed that her siblings all believed she was speaking from perfect memory. These detailed stories were emblematic of her talent as a master storyteller. Her family loved her power to convert little details into compelling tales. She developed and mastered this gift throughout her life.

When she was young, she wanted to be a journalist, but she decided to major in English instead while attending BYU. Later she added Journalism as her minor and then got her master’s degree. After graduation she began her career at a Wenatchee, WA radio station turning the headlines into news stories. She then worked in Idaho Falls for KID radio. In June of 1976, during her first year at KID, the Teton Dam broke, devastating southeast Idaho in that historic disaster. Eleven lives were lost but many more were displaced by the unforgiving flooding. Janet gathered personal stories from survivors and compiled them into a book entitled “That Day in June”. The same year Janet collected stories about pioneers and mountain men who settled Idaho as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. These stories were compiled into another book called “This Side of The Mountain: Stories of Eastern Idaho”.

She became a favorite and sought after speaker to local school children whose classes required learning more about the history of the state of Idaho.

Janet found her dream job as an editor for the New Era magazine in Salt Lake City. Her assignments took her worldwide, interviewing youth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She spent 3 decades editing youth voices from every continent and publishing them in the New Era’s monthly editions.

Janet read widely and collected mountains of books. Her home doubled as a private archive with annotated classics and the works of popular local authors. She most recently loved gathering with the women of her ward to read and discuss their favorite selections. She was ready to host the book club in her home the night before her admittance to the hospital. She was never too sick to talk about a good book.

Janet was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving throughout her lifetime wherever she was needed. A Stake Young Women’s President, a Relief Society teacher, a Nursery Leader, and most recently as a Gospel Doctrine teacher as well as teaching English as a second language through the English Connect program.

Janet was an avid BYU sports fan to the end of her life. She never missed a football game, volleyball game or basketball game on TV if BYU was playing. She knew every player’s name and number and true to form, she had a story to tell about the ones she found the most interesting.

Janet was generous. She always had a ready gift. A homemade necklace, a beanie baby from her collection, a gift card for a diet coke. The gifts were always timely and quietly given. Everyone was a recipient. Her impact was felt equally into the next generation who referred to her as their “favorite aunt”. An “Aunt Janet” endowment has been established from her estate to continue to benefit and bless the lives of her great-nieces and nephews. They may not have the opportunity to know her but will get to experience her generosity.

She is survived by her 5 siblings, their spouses and children. David (Kim) Thomas, Nancy Davies (Bard), Evan Thomas (Janie), Blair Thomas (Pam) and Paula Weed. She was preceded in death by her father, her mother, her sister-in-law and her brother-in-law.

Funeral services will take place on February 13th at 11:00 am at her Ward’s meetinghouse located at 5913 S. Highland Drive. There will be a viewing prior to the funeral from 10:00-10:45 am.

The family will welcome visitors to a viewing Thursday evening at 5913 S. Highland Drive from 6-8 pm.