Joni Leamaster Miller

Joni Leamaster Miller, age 69, of Mapleton, Utah, passed away on August 2, 2026, at 7:43 p.m., surrounded by her loving family after a valiant fight with cancer. Joni was born on August 30, 1956, in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Del Bert and Janet Gay Leamaster.

She graduated from Valley High School in Las Vegas in 1974. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Weber State University in 1992 and later graduated from Myotherapy Massage College in 2004. Joni began her career at Mountain View Hospital in 1987 as an X-ray technician. She held a Computed Tomography (CT) license, a mammography license, and several different types of sonographer licenses and was known as the employee with the most licenses at her work. After finishing her Careplus ultrasound training, she became a sonographer at Mountain View Hospital in 1997. She also served as President of the Utah Diagnostic Medical Sonographers from September 2004 until May 2010. In addition, she worked as an EMT for five years and trained other EMTs.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. An avid dog rescuer, Joni adored all things dogs. She volunteered as a foster for Utah Labrador Rescue 20 years ago and then began fostering for Rescue Rovers 13 years ago. She would often drive what she called the “getaway car” when she picked up rescues from transports or shelters, even driving hundreds of miles to different states to bring dogs home. She would take one puppy or fifteen, it did not matter to her. She loved them all. There are so many dogs safe in wonderful homes because of her selfless love for them. She loved riding horses and taking beach vacations.

Most of all, Joni loved her family. She adored her three children and devoted her whole life to them, often going without while she poured her heart and soul into them, even when it took from her. She fiercely loved and protected her children, spending as much time with them as she could. When they were younger, she went to every baseball, football, and softball game, even traveling to the other end of the world to watch her son play football in high school. She paid any amount of money just to see her children shine in what they loved, mostly doing this all herself as a single mom for a majority of their lives. That support did not stop when they grew up. She continued to support her children in their wild endeavors as they got older, going to band concerts for her oldest son, bowling with her youngest son, and watching her daughter play roller derby. She was incredibly proud of what her children had accomplished, as she should be, because her fierce determination and strength helped make them who they are.

Becoming a grandmother only reinvigorated her. She attended almost every football game, band concert, graduation, or anything her grandchildren were involved in. She has endless hours of videos and thousands of pictures of her grandchildren playing instruments, singing, or playing sports. She was an amazing mother, but she truly shone when it came to her grandchildren. They were her reward for all the hard years her children gave her. She would often have family dinners and just stop and stare at her family and smile and say, “I love this right now.” Joni loved taking pictures. She has boxes of them from every aspect of her life and always had a camera ready to capture the perfect moment.

On August 5, 1999, she married her husband, Steven D. Miller, through another hobby she enjoyed competitive western dancing with the United country Western dance council and Country Western Dance Association. Together they built a life while their family continued to grow with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She loved her three sisters so much. She enjoyed league bowling with her sister Ronni every weekend. She finally got her daughter into it after many years of trying, and she and her daughter spent the last two years of her life sharing endless hours in the car talking about everything while traveling to bowl. She also loved to travel with her baby sister Cassie and went on many beach vacations that never seemed to last long enough.

Joni will be deeply missed by all those whose lives she touched. Through her rescue work, her employment, her family, and simply by being herself. That number is many, many people.

She is survived by her loving husband, Steven D. Miller; her three children, Michael (Kaya) Stipanov, Stevoni (Levi) Doyle, and Brandon (Rachel Wayman) Skeem; her three stepchildren, Kevin (Amber) Miller, Connie (Ricky) Brown, and Cody (Mindy) Miller; 23 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; her three beautiful sisters, Ronni (Tony) Torre, Cassie Leamaster Brown, and Kelly (Steve) Wilson; and many nephews, nieces, and beloved friends.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Del Bert Leamaster and Janet Gay Leamaster.

“Her love made us resilient, her absence leaves us broken, but her spirit and strength keep us moving.” We love you.

In place of flowers, the family kindly asks that a donation be made in Joni’s memory through Rescue Rovers: https://www.rescuerovers.org/how-to-donate Venmo: @RescueRovers

Viewing will be held Friday, August 7, 2026, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Larkin Mortuary, 3688 W. 12600 S. Riverton, UT 84065

Celebration of Life immediately following the viewing, 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Stipanov Residence 15022 South 2815 W, Bluffdale, UT 84065

Interment Saturday, August 8, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Huntington City Cemetery, 585 North 400 West, Huntington, UT 84528